Here's the new chapter!
The sun was shining brightly in the sky. Kimberly Hart-Oliver adjusted her hat over head and closed her eyes. The temperature was perfect-it wasn't too hot, but it wasn't too cold and there was a slight, warm breeze in the air that made everything feel better. The sky was a bright shade of blue and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
"Hey Beautiful," her husband said, sitting on the same lounge chair that she lay on. "Here's your drink." He handed her a glass.
"Mmm, thanks," she said lazily, sitting up to reach for the drink. "It's so beautiful here."
Tommy put his drink down on the table and picked up the sunblock lotion. He squirted some in his hand and started rubbing it on Kim's neck and back. "It sure is. We should come here every year."
"We shouldn't even leave."
Tommy laughed. "You know you don't mean that."
"Yes, I do." She gestured around. "What's there to not love? Sun. Beach. White sand. Husband. It's great here."
"You know what I was thinking?"
"What?" Kim opened her eyes and turned to face her husband. She leaned into him, taking in his sweet-smelling scent.
"You want to extend the honeymoon a bit?"
"YEAH!"
"Okay, a little excited there, are ya?"
Kim laughed. "Yeah, that'd be great."
"No, I mean...extend the honeymoon. Let's travel the world. Show me all the places that you've been to. All the places that you haven't been to. We don't have to go back home just yet, do we?"
Kim's face broke into a grin. "Wow...that sounds perfect. How long should we be gone for?" she asked, jokingly.
"Open-ended. Let's just spend however long we want together. Just the two of us." Tommy looked into her brown eyes. "I'm serious, Kim. I could take a leave of absence from school and you...you pretty much do whatever you want anyway, so...what's stopping us?"
"Seriously?" Kim's face grinned. "Keep you to myself for as long as we want? How could I say no to that? But what about-"
"We could check in with the others every week or so. Let them know where we are and that we're safe."
"But Aisha." Kim's face fell. "She's going to be having a baby." She smirked at her husband. "Or did you forget that?"
"Then we'll come back for when she gives birth."
"That's like in 8 months."
"Then our honeymoon'll be extended for another 7 and a half months. What do you say?"
"I say hell yeah, husband!"
Tommy laughed. "Really? You're okay with it?"
Kim nodded. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Then where should we go first?"
Kim shrugged. "I want to go somewhere that I've never been before."
"Well, then I guess you're choosing. You've pretty much traveled the entire world already."
Kim laughed. "I haven't been everywhere."
"How about you choose, then?"
"Oh man." Kim leaned back and readjusted her sunglasses, taking a sip of her drink. "If you leave it up to me, all we're going to see is the rest of this beach and the inside of our hotel room."
Tommy laughed. "Now, that's an offer that I just can't refuse."
"I guess I really can't be mad at her, right?" said Aisha. She and Adam sat down at the kitchen table in the DeSantos' house. Aisha had just gotten off the phone with Kim, who just told her that she and Tommy were planning on extending their honeymoon to travel the world. "I mean, she and Tommy...they missed so much with each other that it's just right that they want to spend some time alone together."
"I miss her too, 'Sha." He leaned over the table and rubbed her shoulder. "Thanks for calling me."
Aisha shrugged. "Rocky and Jason are at the dojo. They're in the middle of back-to-back classes, so I didn't want to interrupt them."
"Are you okay, 'Sha? Thanks for the food, by the way."
Aisha nodded. "You're welcome. And...yeah, I am okay. I just miss my friend, you know?"
Adam nodded. "Yeah, it is definitely different without Kim around. And Tommy. But they're happy and enjoying themselves, I'm sure. We'll see them soon."
"I know. I just...I thought that she wanted to be here with me. Every step of the way with the baby and everything."
"I'm sure she does. You know how Kim is. Just give her one call and she'll be on the next flight out here."
"So it's Tommy that I should be pissed at?"
Adam bit back a laugh. "No. I don't think it's either their faults, but...you know, they just wanted a little more time alone together. And since nothing was stopping them, why shouldn't they have taken it?"
Aisha pointed to her belly. "Hello? Isn't this something?"
"Something to stop them, 'Sha? Kim said she'll be back in time for the birth. Now, that's something that she wouldn't miss for the world."
"But what if the baby comes early? What if something happens? What if it's nothing that Rocky and I could ever deal with? And Kim's not here?"
"Oh, now, 'Sha, I'm a little offended." He smiled at Aisha, gently. "You've got us, too. Me, Amy, Trini, Jason. Remember us? Your other friends? And I've known you since kindergarten!"
Aisha pouted and crossed her arms. "I am overreacting, aren't I?"
"Just a little bit." Adam held up his thumb and index finger, holding them close together.
"Sorry."
Adam laughed. "No worries. You know I got your back." She rubbed her shoulders. "How are things going, anyway? Baby-speaking and Rocky."
Aisha shrugged. "It's actually been pretty great. You know Rocky. Over-enthusiastic about everything. But...it's nice." Aisha smiled. "I mean, he's the only one that I have ever imagined myself being married and having kids with."
Adam nodded. "Yeah. I remember that day in kindergarten when you proposed to Rocky." They started laughing.
"Gosh...we've really come a long way, haven't we?"
"Yeah, we have. And I'm glad. Remember when you and Rocky were the only ones who talked to me at school, back in Stone Canyon?"
Aisha laughed. "I remember you were the one talking to only me and Rocky."
"Well, everybody else scared me." The two of them laughed again. Adam reached over and hugged Aisha. "I love you, 'Sha."
Aisha smiled. "I love you too, Adam." She paused a bit. "Now, Rocky and I haven't really talked this over, but...I know that he wouldn't mind."
"What's up?"
"Can you be our baby's godfather?"
Adam grinned. "Of course I willl!" He hugged Aisha tighter. "I'd love that! Someone needs to let this baby now all the trouble that you and Rocky got into when you guys were younger."
Aisha rolled her eyes and laughed. "I guess."
"And who'll be my partner-in-crime? Also known as the godmother?"
Aisha gestured her hands around. "I want Kim...but I don't want to ask her over the phone."
"Ahh, thus the anger at her for staying on her honeymoon."
Aisha nodded, shrugging her shoulders. "Yeah, among other things. I guess, I don't know. I'm just...feeling weird lately, I guess."
"Like...pregnancy weird?"
Aisha shrugged again. "I don't know."
"Well...a baby. Brand new for all of us. I know that the rest of us are not actually having this baby, except for you and Rocky, but we'll all be here for you. Every step of the way. If Rocky won't wake up in the middle of the night and you have some craving that's not in your house, you could call me. You could call Trini." He paused a bit, thinking. "Yeah, just call us. We'd be the ones to answer and you know that I'm a serious night owl."
Aisha smiled. "I knew there was a reason why I always loved you, Adam."
Adam smiled and pulled Aisha in, giving her a tight hug. "Love you too, 'Sha."
Four and a half months later, Aisha rubbed her growing belly as she walked into her house. She rifled through the mail as she stepped through the quiet hall. It had been a fairly quiet day at work. Amy and the others refused to let Aisha overexert herself, so Aisha was doing a lot of the boring paperwork that she detested. But she knew it was for the better since animals were very unpredictable, most especially sick animals. And people normally brought their pets in when they're either really sick or in need of immunization-another thing that pets seem to hate.
She turned on the lights in the hall and noted the time. Aisha checked her phone if Rocky had called before remembering that he had a couple more classes to teach before the day ended. She put her things down on the hall table and proceeded to the kitchen. Aisha flipped the light and dropped the mail she held as six people jumped up in front of her.
"SURPRISE!"
Aisha looked at them with in surprise. "What's this?" she asked. Aisha bent down to pick up the mail before Rocky rushed over to pick it up for her.
Trini looked at her funny. "What's this?" she repeated in a mocking tone. "Seriously, 'Sha?"
Aisha nodded, not understanding what was going on. "Seriously, Tri. What's all this? Why the surprise?"
Jason, Adam, Billy, and Hayley started laughing as Rocky looked through the mail. Trini faced Aisha and wrapped her arms around her. "Uh, happy birthday, 'Sha!" she exclaimed.
"My birthday?" Aisha looked around. "My birthday's not till..." Trini held up her phone, showing Aisha the date. "Oh. It's my birthday." She giggled. "Well, thanks guys! I was really surprised."
"We could tell, baby," Rocky said. "Come on, let's start eating."
Aisha walked around, hugging everyone. She got to Billy and Hayley and gave them a tight hug. "Thanks for coming out, you guys."
"Oh, it was no problem at all," Hayley said. "I'm still trying to convince Billy to move out here, too."
Aisha widened her eyes. "You should! That'd be awesome!"
Billy smiled, not saying anything. "So, how are you, anyway? You and Rocky? And the baby?"
"Everything seems to be fine," she answered. "We're good. No problems or anything," she said, hugging Jason. "It's actually been a pretty easy pregnancy so far, so I'm glad about that. I've been hearing about some horror stories from other women." She hugged Adam.
"Hey guys," Rocky said, holding up a postcard. "Kim and Tommy are in Bali." He read through the postcard really quick. "They're having fun, the music there is amazing and they miss us, mucho. And a happy birthday to 'Sha."
"That's it?" Aisha looked a little offended.
"No," Rocky said quickly. "There was a big package delivered earlier from them. It was addressed to you. I"m sure it's your gift. I put it in the living room."
"Well," said Adam. "At least they're having fun. It's been quiet without Kim. Tommy...sometimes he's so quiet, I forget he's there." They laughed.
"They're so lucky," Trini said. "I wish we thought of that." She looked at Jason. "That would've been so cool."
Jason nodded slowly. "Yeah, it would've been cool. But I was great with the white sand and blue water." He kissed Trini. "In fact, I loved it!" Trini shook her head, laughing. Everyone had already grabbed a plate and were all sitting around the dining room table. They were all silently eating their food, although they would make conversation every now and then.
"So...everyone," said Aisha. She looked at Rocky. "Rocky and I have an announcement."
"You guys are having twins!" exclaimed Trini.
Aisha made a face. "No. But...we do have something else. Yesterday, you guys know that we went to the doctor and it's about that time that we find out the sex of the baby. And of course, you guys know that Rocky and I have been debating whether or not we want to find out the sex of the baby or if we want to be surprised when I'm giving birth."
"We already put a bet on it, 'Sha," said Jason. He pointed to him and Adam, who looked as if he was innocent with his hands raised to his chest. "I say girl, he says boy."
Aisha glared at them. "Well. Rocky and I have decided that we wanted to find out the sex of the baby. And..." She reached for an envelope on the counter and pulled out a sonogram picture. "Well, we're having a-" She was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing.
Rocky jumped up to grab it. "Hello?" Everyone was silent, listening to Rocky. "Kim! Hey! What's up? How are you? We got your postcard from Bali. Are you guys still there?" He paused. "Oh, yeah, sure. Here she is." He handed the phone to Aisha. "It's Kim," he said, unnecessarily.
Aisha jumped up, grabbing the phone. "Kim! Hey girl!"
Kim held the phone closely to her ear as she listened to each tone ring. "Come on, 'Sha. Please be there." Tommy sat nearby, watching Kim and holding a newspaper in his hand. Every so often, he would look down and read a story.
"Hello?" came Rocky's voice over the phone.
"Rocky!" she exclaimed.
"Kim! Hey! What's up? How are you?" he fired. "We got your postcard from Bali. Are you guys still there?"
"Wait, Rocky. Is Aisha there? I want to wish her a happy birthday."
"Oh, yeah, sure. Here she is."
Kim waited a moment before hearing her friend's voice over the phone. "Kim! Hey girl!" she heard Aisha say over the line.
"AISHA!" she yelled. "Oh, I miss you! Do you hate me for missing your birthday! I'm so sorry...it's just...it's beautiful out here. You and Rocky so need to come out. Tommy and I will babysit."
Aisha laughed over the line. "I miss you too, Kim."
"Were you surprised by the party? Adam told me about it."
She laughed again. "No, get this: I forgot it was my birthday! I was like...why are you guys in my kitchen, yelling surprise?"
Kim laughed. Tommy waved to Kim. "Tell 'Sha I said happy birthday."
"Hey 'Sha, Tommy says happy birthday."
"Oh, tell him thank you."
Kim nodded to Tommy. "How'd you forget it was your birthday?"
Aisha laughed. "I don't know. Just caught up in everything, I guess."
"So, what's up? How are you and the baby?"
"Oh, well, you called at the perfect time, actually. Rocky and I were just about to tell everyone the sex of the baby. We decided to just find out since we don't want to be stuck at the end, not knowing what to name the baby and then it'll be some sort of unisex name that nobody really likes. Let me put you on speaker phone. Say hi to everyone."
"Hi everyone!" Kim exclaimed through the phone. She pressed a button on her phone and gestured for Tommy to hurry next to her. "It's me and Tommy, here."
"Hey Kim!" echoed a large group of voices.
"It's 'Sha, Rocky, Hayley, Billy, Adam, Trini, and me," said Jason. "How's it going?"
"I thought Aisha had an announcement," said Kim, ignoring Jason's question.
"It's good, Bro," answered Tommy. Kim nudged him to be quiet.
"Yeah," agreed Trini. "What is it going to be? Girl or boy? A Trini or Trino?"
Aisha laughed. "It's going to be-"
There's that chapter! What should Aisha and Rocky have? A girl or a boy? Let me know! And thanks for reading!