6:45pm, at Jayde and Joel’s apartment*
Rylann smiled as the last few guests made their way into the apartment. She laughed to herself, realizing the only parties she had been to in the last two years were tour parties where she definitely didn’t remember anything afterward. Then again, as she scanned the room, this party wasn’t much different from those tour parties. The crowd was nearly identical, consisting of rowdy guys from various bands the guys had become close with and their girls, there was the usual amount of alcohol and loud music; the only difference was the sweet pastel decorations and the few stray family members from Jayde and Joel’s families. Rylann sat with Zandria, Amy, and some of the other girlfriends in the kitchen. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched Benji and his niece, Avary (Josh’s daughter), dance around the living room. She was getting anxious about telling him, but wanted to wait until later. She snapped out of her daze as she felt Benji’s cell phone vibrate against her leg; quickly she realized the text message was from Joel saying they were on their way. She walked out to where Benji was, still twirling around with the three year old latched to his legs, and gently touched his shoulder.
“Ohhh, you wanna cut in?” he grinned.
“I’d love to, but actually, Joel just texted you and they are on their way.”
“Gotcha,” he winked and set Avary down, “Ok everybody…Joel just sent a message and they are on their way, which means, music off and everybody quiet!” He knew exactly how to get everyone’s attention. The room grew silent and dark as everyone huddled together waiting for the guests of honor to arrive. Benji and Rylann squished together in an armchair near a couch that Paul and Zandria had claimed to themselves. In the darkness, nobody could see anyone else, but they definitely heard people.
“Geez Benj, let your poor wife breath!” Tony (mest) teased as the sound of lips smacking and sucking filled the room.
“Hey! It’s not us!” Benji protested, “Dude, my mom and sister are here!”
“Paul?” Tony and Benji chorused.
“Nope, not us either, although…”
“Billy?!?!” The three gasped.
“Hmm? Oh, uh-sorry guys…” he said quietly. Amy giggled lightly before the black room all erupted in laughter.
“Way to go lil Billy!” Tony cheered.
“Shhh Shhh.. I think they are here!” Benji shushed. They all listened closely as they heard keys faintly outside the door. Joel kicked the door open and flicked on the light as Jayde stood in the doorway.
“SURPRISE!!!” Everyone, including Joel, shouted at a very stunned Jayde.
“Oh my god! Joel, you bastard! You knew and you didn’t tell me?” She joked as he engulfed her in his arms.
“Sorry Baby, I couldn’t miss the look on your face!” He smiled and kissed her forehead. They quickly moved into the room, everyone making their rounds giving hugs and feeling her belly. After what seemed like eternity, Jayde finally found her way to the kitchen to sit down with the girls.
“Ugh, my ankles are killing me!” Jayde sighed as she plopped into a chair next to Rylann.
“Aww, sweetie, if It helps, you look hot tonight,” Rylann smiled as she looked over Jayde in a pair of nice jeans and a see-thru flow-y black shirt.
“I know,” Jayde grinned “pregnant with twins and still only a size 7…I can’t complain!” Casual conversation continued for some time, when Jayde and Joel’s mothers walked in.
“So this is where all the girls are hiding out,” Jayde’s mother, Isabella, smiled.
“Yea Mom, you caught us!” Jayde smiled as her mother leaned down and kissed her.
“The girls who have made my boys the happiest guys in the world” Robin, the twins’ mother, beamed.
“So Rylann, it’s been months since I’ve talked to you. Jayde said something about you graduating NYU?” Isabella asked
“Yea, finally…It took an extra semester since I missed some time when me and Benj were, well…everything.”
“I remember dear, well congratulations!” she smiled “Do you have any plans for your degree?”
“I have applied to a few different magazines in the city, and I actually got a call back from Rolling Stone, so we’ll see…” Rylann smiled.
“Good Luck sweetheart,” Robin chimed in. the conversation quickly turned to the other girls at the table. Seeing as Rylann and Jayde were the only two married of the bunch, the questions turned to the other girls’ marriage plans. After a brief round of “we’re not that serious yet” and “maybe someday” from some of the girls around the table, Rylann zeroed in on the only two silent ones.
“So Zani…you and Paul have been together for years, when exactly are you two gonna tie the knot?” Rylann asked teasingly.
“Ummm, well” she stuttered, “Actually…we, kinda, already, did…”
“WHAT?” everyone shouted in shock.
“Shh, calm down” she hushed “Well, after you guys got married, we started thinking about it more…when we took that weekend trip back to Maryland, we just…did it. We decided not to say anything until we were ready…but I guess now is as good a time as any” she beamed.
“I knew that rock on your finger was too big to be just a promise ring!” Jayde quipped.
“You’re not married too are you?” Rylann quickly questioned her sister.
“No! No…not yet, but hopefully soon!” she smiled. The news of Paul and Zandria’s marriage spread around the apartment fast, and everyone offered their belated congratulations. Jayde and Joel began opening the gifts soon after the commotion. Jayde really lucked out; having so many really great friends, she doesn’t have one thing left to buy for the babies. Rylann sat beside Amy in the living room as she watched everyone dance around drunkenly. She looked for Benji, but couldn’t seem to find him anywhere in the sea of people. She stood up to once again go in search of her husband when Tony grabbed her hand and forced her to dance with him. She couldn’t help but laugh at how drunk he was, especially as he tried to serenade her to “Cherry Pie.” She finally managed to pawn him off on his own girlfriend and returned to her search. Minuets later, Rylann returned to her place beside Amy having found only Jayde and Joel making out in the hallway, still no Benji.
“No luck?” Amy questioned.
“Nope…where could that boy have gone? I can’t find him anywhere.” Rylann sighed as Billy stumbled over to where Amy was sitting.
“Hey Sweetheart!” Billy greeted warmly as he leaned in and kissed Amy.
“Hey Billy, have a couple drinks?” she teased smelling the alcohol on his breath.
“Only a few, I swear” he smiled as he gave the scout’s honor.
“Ok, I believe you” she whispered, then brushed his lips lightly.
“Did you hear about Zani and Paul?” he inquired.
“Yea, I can’t believe everyone is married but us!” she exclaimed. Billy got this look on his face, like he had an idea strike him so suddenly.
“Hey everyone, I have an announcement! Hey people, listen up!” He shouted as he stood up.
“Babe? Billy, what are you doing? Sweetie, you’re drunk, sit back down.” Amy tried to coax, worried Billy would embarrass himself.
“No Amy, I’m fine…I have never thought clearer than I am right now.” He smiled down at her as everyone’s attention was on the couple. “Amy, you make me happier than I ever thought I could be, you make me feel like I am on cloud 9 all the time. There is no person in this world I would rather spend my life with than you…Amy” he paused as he knelt down “will you marry me?” He pulled a beautiful platinum band from his pocket. Everyone in the room gasped, no one as much as Amy though.
“I…Billy, I…I don’t know what to say…” she stuttered as she gawked at the ring the rested at the tip of her ring finger.
“Say yes, say you’ll marry me and spend the rest of your life with me…” Billy held his breath, as he looked deep into Amy’s eyes. The entire room was silent as they waited for her answer.
“Yes Billy, yes!” She jumped into his arms as he spun her around. For the umpteenth time that night, a round of congratulations went around. Everyone had more reason to celebrate and more reason to drink to the celebration. Rylann sat on the couch in awe of what just took place before her; her baby sister was getting married. Rylann became more anxious than ever as she thought about all the excitement and couldn’t wait to tell Benji any more. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder, breaking her from her thoughts, as she snapped her head around.
“Benji!” She jumped up and into his arms “where have you been? You missed everything…Amy and Billy are engaged, and Paul and Zandria are already married!!” She explained in excitement.
“Whoa! I really did miss a lot, you’ll have to explain everything to me later on…sorry for just disappearing, I was running around like a maniac, you know me Mr. Social…to make up for it, wanna come for a walk with me?”
“Sure” she smiled as he took her hand into his own and led her out the door. The walked down the hallway toward the stairwell silent, just enjoying each others company. Benji led Rylann up the stairs toward the roof.
“Why are we going up here?” Rylann inquired.
“Why not? It’s a beautiful night, it’s quiet, we can be alone…” he smiled at her as he wrapped his arms around her. He kicked open the door to the roof and moved forward with Rylann.
“Oh my god, Benj…this is so beautiful, it’s, perfect…” her jaw dropped as she looked around the transformed rooftop. There were candles everywhere lighting the sky, a blanket set down with two glasses of wine in the middle, and a stereo softly playing.
“Happy Anniversary Ry…I love you” he beamed, obviously proud of himself, as he leaned in and kissed her with all he could.
“I love you too Benj, I love you” She whispered still in shock.
“C’mon, dance with me” he took her hips into his hands as she leaned close, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I can’t believe you did all this…you are the most amazing husband ever” she smiled up at him.
“So I’ve been told” he grinned playfully “Only the best for you, babe.” Benji held her close as the swayed together, moving so slowly, wanting to savor every aspect of this moment. “Ry…about your dream this morning…we, had a little girl?”
Rylann smiled, “Yea Benj…we had a baby girl,” she took a deep breath. This was it, the moment, it was time to tell him, it was perfect. “Benj, I gotta tell you something…” not knowing exactly what words to use, she took his face in her hands and kissed him. This was a kiss from somewhere deep inside her, a kiss she never knew she was capable of giving, a kiss that made both their knees feel weak. Never parting their mouths, she moved her hands down his back and finally resting on his hips. She pulled him closer. As the kiss deepened even more, she began to grind her hips against his.
“Whoa Ry, that was incredible, but if you want me to be able to walk back into that party, we better calm down” he motioned toward the slight bulge in his pants. Rylann couldn’t help but laugh slightly.
“There was a reason for that…you like the feeling of our hips together like that?” she questioned as he nodded vigorously. “Well…enjoy it while you can, because pretty soon our hips will be separated by my huge belly.”
“Huh? The only way you could ever have a huge bel-”he stopped short “Oh my god, are you?” he waited as she nodded shyly “But I thought, how, I mean, this is great, are you sure? How far along are you?” He stood in complete shock.
“Yes, I’m sure, and I’m three months pregnant.”
“I can’t believe this! Where is it, I mean, you don’t show at all!” he laughed to himself before pulling her tightly into his arms. “Thank you, thank you so much!” Before she could respond, he picked her up and carried her back through the door, down the stairs, through the hallway, before bursting through Joel and Jayde’s apartment.
“I’m gonna be a daddy! I’m gonna be a daddy!” He screamed into the mass of people. Amy looked up at Rylann and smiled, she knew everything was gonna be all right. Benji turned and was out of the door before anyone had a chance to register the information, leaving Amy to explain everything. Benji opened the door to his and Rylann’s apartment and practically ran to their bedroom. He gently set her down on the bed before crawling toward her, kissing hungrily.
“I need you, now!” Rylann moaned as Benji kissed down her bare chest and across her belly. She straddled his body, desperate for the feeling of him inside her. They made love like they never have before. There was new passion for both, this undying love that they shared had created another human, a human that was growing inside Rylann at that very moment. The moved their bodies together in perfect rhythm for hours before collapsing in exhaustion. Benji never removed himself from Rylann’s body, content to sleep connected to her all night.
Rylann had finally drifted into a heavy sleep when the piercing sound of the phone flooded the room. She sat up slowly and glanced at the clock on her nightstand; 3:18 am.
“Hello?” she answered groggily.
“Ry? Ry! Jayde…water…hospital…now!” Joel screamed frantically on the other end.
“Whoa, Joel, calm down… what’s wrong?” she listened as Joel took a deep breath and continued.
“Jayde’s water broke…the babies are coming, now, we are going to the hospital…” he spoke more calmly.
“Ok…we’ll be right behind you guys, and Joel…it’s gonna be all right.” She quickly hung the phone up and turned to tell Benji the news, but was surprised to see him already up and pulling pants on.
“C’mon, I’m not gonna miss my niece’s or nephew’s births!” He smiled. Rylann picked her clothing from the floor and got dressed as quickly as possible. Benji was in the bathroom brushing his teeth as she quickly tossed her hair up in a ponytail. She was searching for her flip-flops when the phone rang again.
“Joel, we are on our way…” she answered the phone.
“Um…this isn’t Joel…Hi Rylann” the person responded shyly.
“Jace…?” she gasped
THE END!