“How’s my favorite nephew doing today?” Andrei London walked into Kieran’s dressing room with a huge grin on his face.
Kieran rolled his eyes but smiled back. “I’m your only nephew.”
“You don’t know that.” Dre plopped down on a sofa and clasped his hands on his stomach. He laughed at the look on Kieran’s face.
“You have some other sibling that no one knows about?” Kieran went back to fixing his tie. The damn thing would stay straight!
“Okay, fine. But you’re still my favorite.”
“Thanks Uncle Dre.” Dre came over and finished doing up the tie for him. “Thanks.”
“Don’t be so nervous. Getting married is a piece of cake!”
“Said no one ever.”
Dre laughed but his psyche screamed sadness to Kieran. “Well, we still run towards it when we find that perfect someone, don’t we?”
Kieran knew that his uncle was thinking of Maya. It had been two years since Siobhan promised that Maya would come back. The family knew that Dre would wait forever for her and Kieran hoped she’d show up soon, he didn’t like seeing his uncle like this. Hurting. “Yeah, we do.”
Dre seemed to shake himself free of the sadness and grinned at his nephew. “Are you ready? I was sent in here to get you.”
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Huh, that was…inspiring.”
They both laughed. Yeah, he was ready.
Kieran stood and smiled nervously at the guests. It was a small gathering, just close family. He’d wanted to invite Gracie and Emma but Lorde had had her heart set on this date and the girls couldn’t make it because of school. But his uncles, Tony and Riley, had made it.
He winked at Steph, who was watching him and fretting with the hem of her dress. His mother sat in the front row but he refused to look her way again. He consoled himself with the thought that at least she’d shown up. He probably owed Matt for that one.
Eden hadn’t; Belle was having a bad day and he’d stayed with her. Kieran wished Eden would get his head out his ass and accept help. That girl needed it. But today was not the day to try and fix the world.
His attention was diverted when the organ began to play the wedding march. It was funny to him that they were getting married in a church. They weren’t religious at all, but Lorde’s family was and this had been their one ask. He just wished that more of them had decided to come.
As it was, her father and grandmother were the only two people from her side of the family there. He made a mental note to check in on her before things got too crazy.
“I, Alistair Kieran Zenteri King, take you, Lorde Penelope Lawson, to be my wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”
“I, Lorde Penelope Lawson, take you, Alistair Kieran Zenteri King, for my husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”
Before he knew it, the ceremony was over and they were being introduced as Mr. and Mrs. King.
He was married.
Kieran smiled down at Lorde and squeezed her hand, searching for some comfort while his brain tried to process this new paradigm.
He was married.
Remembering his promise, he leaned down and whispered, “Are we good?”
Lorde smiled up and him and nodded. “Yes, we’re good.”
“I will always be there for you, Lorde. I promise.”
“And you always keep your promises.”
“We’re going to be late if we don’t hurry up,” Kieran shouted. He tapped out the notes to Beethoven’s Fidelio on the baby grand piano while he waited for Lorde to come down. Today was their sonogram appointment. He would get to see his daughter for the first time.
He heard his wife finally moving down the stairs and stood up. Moving to the foyer, a small smile tugged on his lips as he remembered Lorde’s reaction to seeing the house for the first time. It had been his wedding present to her. He figured a child should have a backyard and a house to call home, not some high-rise apartment. Maybe they’d get a dog or something.
She’d spent considerable time and money to furnish it, including having the piano shipped from his old place. He’d been ready to leave it but Lorde wouldn’t hear of that, she knew it was important to him. She was that good at reading him. He couldn’t say the same though and it was frustrating as hell.
“I’m ready.”
She looked at him as she came down the stairs and his breath caught in his throat. She’d changed back to her natural hair color and she had a slight bump now. She looked beautiful and he said as much.
Smiling, Lorde came to stop next to him and kissed him lightly. “Thank you.”
He pulled her closer to him and kissed her again, deeper. He was married and was having a baby!
“What was that for?”
“Just because I could.”
Lorde smirked and stepped away. “Come on, silly man. We’re already late.”
Kieran smiled and headed to the garage to start the car.
They were in a well-appointed room waiting for the technician and he glanced down at Lorde before grabbing her hand. She looked so calm. He couldn’t keep his leg from shaking. He’d hear his child’s heartbeat for the first time; see her for the first time.
“Are you okay?”
He smiled at her. “Yeah, I’m good. Are you okay?”
“Are you sure? You seem nervous.”
“I’m fine, promise.”
The nurse walked in and they both looked up. “Hello. I’m Nurse Jackie. Is this your first time here?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Kieran looked back at Lorde, startled. “What?”
She glanced at him before looking back at the nurse. “I’ve been here before.”
When she didn’t elaborate, he frowned. “When were you here?”
“When I found out about the baby. Can we get started please?”
“Oh.” His tense shoulders relaxed and he sat back in his chair. “Of course.”
He didn’t know what he’d thought she’d say. No wonder she was so calm. He was the only one who didn’t know what to expect here.
Nurse Jackie bustled around, setting everything up and Kieran pretended he needed to scratch his nose so he could let go of Lorde’s hand. She always seemed so calm, no matter the situation. He wondered, not for the first time, what she must be thinking.
“Alright mommy, I’m just going to put this gel on your belly – don’t worry, I heated it beforehand. And if baby is cooperating, we can find out the gender today. Is that something you want to know?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.” Nurse Jackie squirted a bit of the gel, took a plastic stick she called a wand and placed it on Lorde’s stomach.
Within seconds, Kieran heard a loud woosh woosh woosh sound.
“And that’s the heartbeat. Good and strong.”
He looked at the monitor, mesmerized. The baby was tiny but he could clearly see the head and what looked like a body.
The nurse took measurements, all the while explaining what she was doing. A few clicks later and she said, “Alright and we’re just going to try and turn the little one around and – oh, there it is! Congratulations, it’s a boy!”
Kieran frowned. “Are you sure?”
The technician looked at him. “Yes. I’m sure.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just I thought…” He didn’t finish his sentence for fear of sounding like an crazy person.
He frowned, thinking back to the letter Siobhan had left him in her journal. She’d said daughter. That his daughter would be important. Had she made a mistake?
“Kieran?”
He looked down to find Lorde staring up at him. Concern evident in her gaze.
“Sorry, I’m good.”
She studied him a moment longer before turning her attention back to the screen.
The ride home was a quiet one. He could feel the tension. When he parked the car, Lorde was out and walking into the main house in a flash.
He stayed in the car, looking at the tools hanging from the wall. He needed to do better. Placing his head on the steering wheel, he took a few deep breaths. He would do better.
His thoughts turned to Eden and what his friend had said the last time they spoke. He was privileged and he’d never really tried at anything. Never really had to. With a wife and a child on the way, he couldn’t continue his criminal activity. He couldn’t help his friend even if he wanted to. What he needed was a job. Something that would keep him busy, maybe even give Eden an opportunity to earn an honest living as well.
He would find something, maybe open a gallery and make it a family business, something flexible so they could both take care of their families.
He glanced at the door Lorde had walked through a few minutes before. He had a family now and if Siobhan was right, there would be more in the future. He would be better.
The Torres Legacy 
Ahh. This makes the other session chapter make so much more sense. I appreciate that Kieran is probably out of his element – not being able to just read her and respond – but this was so tactless. I know he’s confused about not having the daughter he thought it would be, but like he (sorta) mentioned – Siobhan said he would have a daughter, not that he was having one right now. Shouldn’t they all know better by now than to take anything said by Siobhan or Dr. Gates at such face value. lol.
How terrible to think maybe he was disappointed in something she couldn’t help like this.
That said – wow their communication needs work. They’re married now! Why is she still hiding from him? If he doesn’t understand something or doesn’t know what she’s thinking why doesn’t he just ask?! Why don’t they know what’s going on in each other’s lives? I mean, don’t they just sit and talk about their days? Maybe I’m reading too much into it. 😛
(Though, that said, I should be getting my guard up for the emotions you always bombard me with. The story really has direction now, so I’m absolutely sure those twists and gut-punches are coming. :sigh: I do so love the suffering though. )
I think what you said in your response to my last comment was spot on – Al might be suave and smart and powerful – but in this respect, in the respect of having a normal adult relationship – he is pretty out of his depth. That said – aren’t we all at that age… Hell – aren’t we all, all the time? I sure feel that way. lol
I’m sorry if I came of super crabby. :sweat: I know we all have our moments, and I feel so bad for her that almost nobody from her family came. After going and reading the “sessions” chapters I’ve definitely had a change of heart – and I’m really interested to find out more about Lorde and her family. I’m also doubly interested to see how Al gets to cheating and stealing from here too!
GAH! How will I stand the waiting after being spoiled by so much binge-ing in the past!!!
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::waves:: hi! I’ve missed you! Okay, I’m going to take this in sections lol
The sessions: that last one was supposed to come after this but this chapter is technically the second half of Chapter 6. It was getting too long and taking too long to write, so I broke it up. So sorry, I know everyone was kind of scratching their heads wondering what she was talking about. Her therapy is really letting you see her side of things, isn’t it? Good, good!
Baby gender mix-up: Yeah, he’s smooth like butter /sarcasm/ 🙂 The baby’s room is for a girl, he has a bedroom made up for a daughter. I don’t know why Lorde seemed surprised that he was banking on a girl lol. Granted, there’s also a boy’s room and the baby’s room is green and pastels… She could have said something in the car! I don’t want to get too much into her brain but she’s still trying to figure him out. She chooses her battles. But nothing like a slammed car door and the silent treatment to get your point across. Which leads to…
Communication: Kieran has never – ever – had to ask someone how they are feeling. I don’t think it’s even occurred to him to do that. The closest he’s ever come is, “Are you okay? Are we good?” lol He’s spent his entire life wishing he didn’t know how other’s were feeling. He’s lost. He’s not doing it on purpose. Lorde doesn’t know he’s struggling. To her, he’s the cool, collected guy who has everything. And because she’s his first real relationship, she brushes most things off as him being a n00b. She’s been keeping herself busy furnishing the house and he does… whatever. When she checks up on him, he’s usually painting or drawing something. And when he checks in on her, she forces him to pick out color swatches or furniture pieces. (And now you know what they’ve been doing for the last two months lol)
Lorde’s family: There isn’t much of it left. She’s an only child of only children. There weren’t many people for her to invite. And because it was a family gathering, the few friends she had didn’t make the list. Take that however you wish… lol
Siobhan and Brian Gates: MWAHAHAHAHA… You would think!!!
Everything else: Emotional? What, my stories?? Nooo… 0_0 🙂
Things will pick up now, for sure!
I think my response is longer than I intended lol
Thank you for reading and commenting reborn!
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Hmmm the wedding was, I don’t a little sad. It had an aura of sadness about it. They got married on a day when Gracie and Emma couldn’t be there when Keiran obviously wanted them to be. It was a day that Lorde wanted regardless of whether they’d be there.
They don’t communicate at all. I know Keiran probably doesn’t know how to because he can usually read people but with Lorde he can’t. I’m not sure why Lorde doesn’t try harder. She gives me the impression she’s self-absorbed and selfish.
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The wedding wasn’t as joyous as one would have liked, no. (I have pictures, maybe that will help? iono)
Yeah, Lorde was a bit self-conscious about her baby weight and how that would look in a dress. And the place her family wanted was only available then or she’d have to wait 3 months. They talked about it, I just didn’t mention it… Can you imagine if he had put up a fight so Gracie could be at his wedding? Ha! She has no personal stake in his relationship with his cousins. She wasn’t bothered.
Lorde doesn’t know she has to. She doesn’t know he’s struggling because he hasn’t told her. She is extremely independent and I don’t think she’s deluding herself into thinking that this marriage is more than what it is. She knows they weren’t ready, she gave him an out. He didn’t take it. So she’s kind of like… Whatever.
She may perhaps be a bit selfish but we don’t really know do we??
And now after reading your and reborn’s comments, I haz ideas!!! lol
Thank you so much for your insight!
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Don’t go saying I helped give you any ideas O.o
Now I’m gonna feel guilty when it all goes to hell. lmao.
j/k 😉
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Tooooo late!!! MWAHHAHAHAHA!!!
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Kieran seems a bit worried… Criminal activity is not recommended when you are providing for a wife and child lol so I hope he can find work!! At least Lorde sounds like she’s looking forward the having the baby 😀
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lol he might be a tad concerned, yes! Although, a life of crime could be lucrative. Lorde’s level of excitement is… debatable.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Kipper!
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I guess we went back in time a bit here since Maya is actually back and Dre isn’t sad anymore. That threw me for a moment. That was pretty sad for a wedding. It was a beautiful location and they looked elegant, but I didn’t feel the love between them, and they had very few people there to support them as they began their marriage. It was all very perfunctory. Instead of “I love you,” Kieran asks, “Are we good?” A promise to always be there for his wife is something, but it’s not the profession of love you want to hear on your wedding day. Forever is a really long time.
Kieran committed a major faux pas when the tech told them the baby was a boy. That’s not the reaction a woman wants to hear from her husband, that’s for sure. No wonder she’s pissed. He made it seem like he had no interest in a baby boy. What about the magical moment of hearing your baby’s first heartbeat? Man, Kieran messed up big time. These two are in for a rocky road if they don’t start communicating better.
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Yeah. His story runs parallel to the end of Dre’s. This is around the time that Maya comes back and he goes to visit Gracie and she’s all dressed up. Dre comments that Kieran’s having a rough time in that chapter.
Why does everyone think the wedding was sad? They said their wedding vows, very traditionally. They cut the cake and did all that stuff! Lorde was pleased with it…
To be fair, I don’t think you can love anyone that fast! They’ve only been together for 5 months at this point. Saying they love each other would have been a lie. And who wants to start a marriage off with a lie?
Yeah, the whole baby thing was… bad. lol
Damn Siobhan and her fortune telling nonsense! He is definitely stoked about this baby though. Honest to blog!
We can’t expect them to know how to communicate, they barely know each other. Hopefully, it will get better as they spend more time together. (Currently, all they want to do is have s.e.x. If that doesn’t help, I don’t know what will!)
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DRE!!!!! Sorry. Had to get that out. Lol
I kind of got the sad wedding vibe too. Didn’t feel like there was a lot of heart into it, but like you said, they’ve haven’t been together very long so it makes sense. You know, I just want to keep pointing Kieran towards my Jeff since he has valuable info on marrying someone because you get them pregnant. . .Hopefully it ends better for Kieran.
The boy/girl slip up. . .man! He goofed. Big time. He did pledge to do better so hopefully he can smooth things over with Lorde but that’s going to be hard. No her reaction in the Session before this makes perfect sense. She was obviously very hurt/disappointed by his reaction.
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DRE! I miss him and his cute face. I just want to smoosh it! Happy weddings are reserved for the real thing in my stories! But that doesn’t mean it can’t get better!
What’s Jeff’s number? I’ll pass it along!
Yeah, no one is going to forget that slip anytime soon. Especially not Lorde.
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Okay, I get the sessions chapter now, LOL, I was confused at first. Originally I thought it was because I have been away from your story for so long, but now I think it’s a combination of that, plus me not reading this chapter yet.
Lorde having a boy now probably meant that Siobhan knew Kieran would have more kids. At least, that’s my thought, since she’s probably not wrong about these things. LOL.
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lol hi!!! Long time no see! This is a weird chapter to start the story from, so much is happening but yup. Siobhan is rarely wrong. Unless you know, the kid is like Gracie or something.
Thank you for reading and commenting!!
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LOL. Hiii! Yeah, I just picked up from the last part of your story that I’d left off at, and this chapter happened to be it. XD
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Uhmmm I’m getting bad ominous vibes from this entire generation. Idk if that’s intentional or not, but you’re definitely keeping me on my toes.I’m almost poaitive Lorde is not the mother of the special daughter, but I’ll wait and see what happens.
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