I Won't Give Up (26 page)

Cooper

“Cooper. It’s okay. You’re okay.” The voice called.
I’d do anything for that voice.

I remember when I was a little kid all questions could be answered with the shake of a magic eight ball. Like does Jenny like me, will I be rich when I grow up, am I cool, it was the answer to all of the hard questions in life. As soon as I heard her voice saying my name I fought to climb of out the darkness, I needed to get to that voice, it was my magic eight ball, the answer to everything.

I felt her hand in mine.
I was just relieved that she was okay, I’d take a bullet for her any day of the week to make sure she never had to feel pain but I guess me being in here is causing her pain of some sort too. When I finally opened my eyes I made sure to give her my best smile knowing it would make her laugh. I needed her forever.
I didn’t want to waste another minute.

“Knock knock.” I said.

“Who’s there?”

“Mary.”

“Mary who?”

“Marry me.”

“What?” She stammered.

“Marry me Fiona. Be my wife. I know we’re still in high school, I know we’re young, I know you’ve only been my girlfriend for less than twenty-four hours but there will never be anyone else.” Why wasn’t she taking me serious, I
just asked her to marry
me.

“Okay tough guy we’ll talk about it when you’re off the juice.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Well that wasn’t the most romantic proposal and you’ve also just been shot but I can’t see myself ever loving anyone
else
so if you’re serious then
yes I will marry you.” SCORE!!!

My dad looked like he was about to piss himself he was laughing so hard. I think he knew from the moment I started talking about Fiona that she was the one for me.

“Kurt can you go tell the nurse he’s awake. I need to talk to him for a minute.”
I watched as my dad left. I’d hoped she didn’t have bad news.

“You scared me.” She said smiling softly.

“Sorry but it’s going to take a lot more than a bullet to keep me from you.”

“
That’s what Luke said and
that’s a
lso a
good thing because I have some news that might make you have to take another one.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“You’re my baby daddy.”
She
reached and pulled something from her back pocket. A
sonogram.

“Holy shit I’m gonna be a dad?” I beamed.
She nodded. I studied the picture of the little blob on and I was already in love.
I knew it was going to be a tough road but both of our families were very financially secure and our love
was an unwavering,
unstoppable force. I loved this amazing girl and now we were going to have a baby. She was right though
,
our parents were going to flip, good thing they have smelling salts here.

“So you’re okay? I know it’s not the best timing with school and everything but I want this baby more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

“Fiona I knew that night that this was a possibility, I almost was hoping for it. This is crazy, we made this.” I reached out my IV filled hand and placed it on her flat stomach.
She nodded her head,
eyes filled with tears.

“I love you so much Cooper. I know I have a lot to make up for with my behavior and pushing you away but I promise I will never run away from you ever again.”

“It’s water under the bridge and I love you too baby momma.” I said the last part knowing my dad was standing right there.

“Baby momma?” He said looking pale.

“That’s right Gramps. My fish can swim, they managed to penetrate the bulletproof vest. We’re having a baby.” I said
grinning
happily.

“Levi’s going to kick my ass. Did this happen the night you slept over Fiona?”

“No Kurt we never did anything under your roof.” She said turning beet red.

“Well I’m off the hook then.” He said
fake wiping his palm over his forehead. I handed the sonogram to him pointing to the gestation period.

“Almost seven weeks.” He ran his hand over the picture thoughtfully. “Well I shouldn’t be thrilled about my teenage son and his just eighteen year old girlfriend having a baby but I’m happy for the both of you and I will help you both in anyway I can.”

“Thank you.” Fiona said pulling him in for a hug.
We sat around talking for a little longer when Fiona’s family came in. I could tell she was nervous, I told her she could wait until we were all home before she told them but she said it was probably better for everyone that we did it here.
Luke came and poked the ribs on my good side. We’d actually become close over the last month or so
. He’d been helping me try to get through to Fiona,
I considered him
a good friend
. I hoped he wouldn’t freak out with Fiona being his baby sister and all.

“Oh Cooper, I’m so glad to see you awake.” Gabby said.

“Cooper, nice to finally meet you. Thank you for saving my daughter.” Levi said.

“You too sir and I’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping her safe.”

Fiona cleared her throat.

“We have some um…
news.” She said nervously.

“Is everything okay?” Gabby asked.

“Yes. Never better actually but I think you should sit down.” The
y
walked apprehensively to the chairs and took a seat.
She strategically placed herself in front of me, using herself as a human shield of sorts.

“As you both know I went through a very difficult time when you left dad
and I’m not blaming you now and we all know that everything happens for a reason
.
” She took in a deep breath.
“
I was broken and on a path of self-destruction. Cooper saw through the broken girl and loved me anyway. We’ve always do
ne things a little backwards and
when he woke up the first thing he did was propose
.” She paused letting that sink in.
I noticed Gabby smile.
“A
fter I accepted I told him he’s going to be a daddy.” I watched as the realization crossed their faces.
Her
dads a mix of anger, hurt and love.
Her
mom started crying and it was yet to be determined if they were happy
tears
.

“You’re pregnant?” Levi
asked.

“Yes al
most seven weeks.”
She said.
I handed Fiona
the sonogram
that was still on my lap
.

“And you’re keeping it?”
He asked.

“Yes dad. We’ve already discussed this, Cooper was actually thrilled when I told him.
Please just be happy for us.
” She looked at me admirably. I was still on cloud nine.

“You’re both so young.” Gabby said.

“Mom I think you forget I’m only a year
younger
than you were when you had Luke.”

“I know. It’s going to be hard but I think both of you will make wonderful parents. I’m just a little shocked that’s all. I didn’t think you
two
, you know.”

That was the embarrassing part of telling people you’re pregnant then they
know
that you’re having sex. This was going to be a field day when we finally got back to school…

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Proposal

Fiona

“Wake up sleepyhead we have to get ready for school.” I tried to move out from under him but he just tightened his arms around me.

“Can’t we just stay in bed it’s so
comfortable with you in it.”

“No, it’s our first day back and you get to tell everyone that you’re gonna be a daddy.” That did it he practically leapt out of bed and ran for the shower almost tripping in the process. I swear he’s insane. I followed him into the shower and after he was done he stood behind me with both of his hands caressing my still flat stomach humming lullabies. We got out and dressed getting ready for school.

“We should start looking for houses.” He said as I was brushing my hair. “It would be nice to be settled before the baby’s born.”

“Okay my mom’s friend Kathy is a realtor I’ll have her put in a call to make an appointment.” He grinned. He picked up both of our backpacks and headed downstairs grabbing the keys to my Audi which now since I was pregnant he insisted on driving and pretty much anything that would require an ounce of effort. When we pulled into school he parked next to Casey. I waved and she smiled I’d texted her a little bit over the last week that we spent home but no one knew about the baby yet. Cooper opened the door and we met Casey and Harper on the way into school.

“Did you hear the news?” Cooper asked them.

“What news?”

“I’m gonna be a dad.” He beamed.

“Wait. What?” They looked at me.

“Yep you heard right. I’m pregnant. We’re due in June.”

“Wow. Congrats.” They both looked shocked and at a loss for words.

Throughout the day Cooper told anyone that would listen and even those that wouldn’t including teachers, the principal. At lunch he carried the tray saying he would be packing us lunch from now on because this stuff wasn’t good enough for the baby.
It was going to be a long nine months… When we sat Riley came up to the table with Tabitha on her heels.

“Is it true?”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about but if you’re asking if Fiona and I are getting married and having a baby then yes it’s true.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

“You wouldn’t know if you were a week pregnant!”

“Stop yelling you’re giving me a headache and she’s not a week she’s almost eight weeks.”

“How do you even know it’s yours she could just be saying that to try and keep you.”

“First she’s not vindictive like you and second not that its any of your business but if you really want to know it was from passionate love making sans condoms and the whole time I was hoping this would happen so why don’t you just get on your merry way.” They both stomped away. I felt my face blush but I was mostly just relieved that he was taking control of things.

Over the next couple months I started feeling more and more like my old self but a better version. I was learning who Fiona Prescott was.
  

Cooper

“Does this look good here?” I asked pushing the curio against the wall in the dining room.
Hopefully
it did
because
I was out of breath and exhausted.
I spent the last hour moving the heavy wooden piece
of furniture
from wall to wall.

“Perfect.” She
smiled
.

We were finally moved in to the house that we bought together. It was a Victorian style home with a wrap around porch and peaked roof. Fiona fell in love with it right away. It was
located
in the
more historical part of town. We have four bedrooms
leaving
us plenty of extra room for growing.

Tonight’s going to
b
e our first night here. I
t was causing some gossip but neither of us cared; we were both in our own little bubble. Everyone knew she was pregnant now and
that
we weren’t married but I was planning on changing that as soon as possible.
I even bought a Toyota Sequoia SUV so both her and baby would be safe. She still had her Audi R8 but Levi gave her a new Audi Q7 SUV
since the R8 doesn’t have backseats
.
Surprisingly our families have been really supportive
since we left the hospital
, Fiona and Levi were on speaking terms again not that she didn’t make him grovel from time to time.
Levi and Gigi broke things off but Gabby wasn’t going to take him back, I can’t say I
blame
her
and I know he didn’t expect her to
.

Fiona
was a little over sixteen weeks pregnant and was finally
starting to have a little bump.
I was
absolutely
in love with her
growing
belly. She could out eat me, all she wanted was fried chicken so needless to say I was making lots of late night trips to Bubba’s and enjoying every minute of it. The look on her face when I handed her the bag made it worth it. We started picking out baby names, she liked Berkley, Savannah and Madison for girls and Logan, Mason and Zachary for
boys. I didn’t care either way as long as she was happy
. We were scheduled to find out what we were having after new years, which was soon since it was going to be Christmas in a few days. We
invited
Carl com
e stay with us over the holiday, t
he Fed’s agreed to drop all charges against him if he testified against Giovanni and the rest of the guys, thankfully most of them were looking at very lengthy jail time. It also saved Fiona from
having to testify in court,
I wanted to avoid
that
at all costs because she didn’t need that kind of stress for her or the baby.