14- Grandma and Mother-In-Law

"You think you're WHAT?" 

Aria demanded, shocked. "You're 15 years old Rue! You can't be pregnant!"

Rue's face paled. "I'm not completely sure that I am mom. I.. I made a mistake. There is this guy that I have had a crush on for a while now.. And I just.. took things too far. I'm so so sorry mom. My period is a week late."

She put her face in her hands and started crying. Aria sighed and put her hand on Rue's shoulder. "I understand that you made a mistake. And if you don't know yet there is a chance that you couldn't be. And even if you are Rue, I will be here for you." 

She hugged her close and kissed her forehead. "I will make an appointment with Dr. Bishop in the morning."

"Thank you so much momma." Her voice cracked as she turned and ran off to her room. 

Aria couldn't believe this. Her first grandchild. Not from one of her 17 adult children, but from her 15 year old baby girl. Figures.

Rue's appointment had been scheduled for a few days later, but Aria unexpectedly went into labor, welcoming her 24th, 25th, and 26th children, Atlas, Knox and Arsen, into the Rapture home.

Rescheduled for the next week, Aria nervously escorted Rue into her doctor's office. And they exited 2 hours later with the news that Rue was, most definitely, 12 weeks along with a baby. 

The whole world seemed to shrink for Aria in that second. The thought of a grandchild was almost inconceivable to her. Especially from her teenage daughter. But a baby was a baby and she would love this baby just as much as any of her own.

Boston, teen.

Beckham, teen.

Keely, teen.

At home, Aria put the triplets to bed and pulled Rue aside.

"Do you have any questions? Are you scared? Do you need any advice?"

Rue laughed a little. And then she erupted into a fit of giggles that made Aria slightly confused. 

"What?" She asked, perplexed.

"Well mom.." Rue started, stifling her laughter and straightening up. 

"I mean, not really. I have a mother with 24 children and a grandmother with close to 40. I think I know how the whole pregnancy and childbirth thing works."

Aria smiled. 

"I know hon, I was just letting you know that I am here for you. I can't imagine being pregnant at 15. I didn't even have sex until I was 16. If you need anything at all, I'm here for you. I love you. You'll always be my baby girl."

She put a hand on Rue's tiny baby bump. Rue smiled and shrugged. 

"More than anything I am just glad I am due before Gemma's wedding! I don't want to be a pregnant whale in a dress." With that, she bounded off to her and Kendyll's room, closing the door behind her.

Speaking of Kendyll, She wouldn't even LOOK at Rue. Let alone talk to her.

Knox Rapture.

Atlas Rapture

Arsen Rapture

Things were tense as Rue grew closer and closer to her due date. She stayed home from school once she had reached her third trimester. One day, maybe two weeks before her due date, Rue came up to her mother, a strange look in her eyes. "Mom, I don't know if I can keep this baby."

Aria's mouth dropped. "What do you mean Rue? Why are you saying that?"

"I just... I'm too young mom. I think I want to put him or her up for adoption. Please? I am not with their father and I just... I don't want to do this on my own mom." She bit her lip, her eyes full of tears. 

Aria sighed, looking away. She didn't know what to tell her. She had no idea what to do in this situation. The baby was almost here. It was such a last minute decision...

"Mom!" Rue screamed, interrupting Aria's thoughts. Aria's eyes widened at the puddle of water on the floor. Oh no... It was baby time.

16 hours of hard labor later, Rue welcomed twin baby boys named Zachary and Glenn. 

After seeing her babies she had decided there was no way she could give them up. And decided to keep them. Aria couldn't have been more proud to meet her very first grandbabies!

Ezra, YA.

Kendyll, YA.

Rue, YA.

With lots of tears and lots of kisses, Rue, Kendyll, Ezra and Baby Zachary and Glenn moved out. Aria was sad to see them go, but slightly relieved to have the extra space in her house. Because her father and stepmother arrived from Hidden Springs the next morning.

Aria had been up all night, hastily cleaning and worrying herself sick. Gemma's wedding was in exactly a week. Her parents were due to arrive any minute, the kids were stressing her out like crazy and she was heartsick for her new grandsons. She was just about to get herself a drink to calm her nerves when she heard a knock at the door.

They were here.

Aria opened the door and her mouth dropped open. Axil was standing behind her parents with a giant grin on his face.

"Oh my Plumbob! Ax! I didn't even know you were coming!!" She threw herself in his arms, beaming.

She hadn't seen her twin brother since she had left Hidden Springs. 

He laughed and squeezed her. "I wasn't going to miss this! Besides, Gemma called me last week and asked me if i would walk her down the aisle. I told her i would be honored."

Aria turned around and noticed Jack and Hadley had already let themselves inside. 

"Hey, Dad!" Aria grinned and her father wrapped her in a huge bear hug.

When they stepped apart from each other, Aria noticed her stepmother, Hadley, standing there awkwardly. 

"Hey, . It's nice to see you again. I am super happy that you could be here for the wedding. I am surprised that the hospital let you leave for a week." 

Hadley smiled. "Anything for one of my grandchildren, hon. Is Mila here?" She asked, looking around.

Aria shook her head. 

"Nope, Mila is staying with a friend of mine who bought a house here." Aria neglected to mention Jayberri's name. 

Her father had never liked him much after everything that had happened when they were teenagers.

Aria smiled brightly at them and gestured to the stairs.

"Let me show you guys to your room. I bought a double bed and put it in the foyer upstairs just for you guys! And Axil you can stay in one of the downstairs rooms, The triplets only use two of the rooms."

They all got settled in and Aria went downstairs to cook, glad the worst was over. She wasn't even sure why she was so nervous. On her way to the kitchen however, Axil stopped her.

"Hey, Ar. You look like you're so happy here. I missed you so much though, Hidden Springs is nothing without you and me blowing up the town."

Aria laughed. "Yeah, well, I have a much more peaceful lifestyle now." She sighed. "I am so happy you are walking Gemma down the aisle, Ax. her father was never really around." 

Axil grinned. "Anytime, Aria. I still think you're crazy for taking on this challenge though. People are already saying terrible things about you back home."

Aria shrugged. "Weren't they always?" They both laughed.

The morning of the wedding dawned bright and early, the sun beaming through Aria's beautiful windows. She yawned and smiled. Her little girl was getting married today. She changed into her bathrobe and bounded downstairs. Armani, Mila and Gemma were waiting downstairs for her, clad in matching bathrobes, Armani and Mila being the other birdesmaids. 

"Eeeee," Gemma squealed when she saw her. "I'm getting married!!!"

They all erupted into a fit of squeals and giggles.

Once they calmed down they all piled into Mila's SUV and headed to the venue to get their hair and makeup done. And to finally don their bridesmaid's dresses.

Aria took a deep breath and fanned her face, not wanting to cry and mess up her makeup.

"I am so happy for you, Gemma. Trenton is a great guy, you two will are very blessed to have each other."

Gemma's eyes welled with tears. "Stop, momma. I don't want to cry either!" She hugged Aria close and squeezed her eyes shut

From the hall they heard the music start and Aria walked to the door of their suite. 

"I guess that's my cue." She said, opening the door. 

"You're walking with Carter Simon, by the way. Do you remember him?" Gemma called out to her as she was about to exit. 

Aria had missed the rehearsal and bachelorette party due to needing to be at home with the triplets, who had all three been running a fever.

"Carter Simon?" Aria asked, turning around. "The boy I grew up with?" They had even been pretty close back then, best friends, but when she left Hidden Springs she hadn't heard from him.

Gemma nodded. "It turns out he and Trenton are old friends from college." She gave her mom a huge smile and ushered her out the door.

Aria turned to the right, her eyes falling on a man's back, dressed in a suit and his hair in a mohawk.

"Thats obviously appropriate for a wedding." She muttered to herself, approaching him.

"Carter? Is that you?" she asked, suddenly shy.

He turned around, a smile on his face. Aria was literally blown away by how gorgeous he was. 'Whoa he grew up nice.' She thought, sidetracked for a moment.

"Hey Aria," He said, offering her his arm. 

"It's time to get this show on the road. We're first." He led her outside.

The preacher welcomed everyone and the last few stragglers took their seats. And then he read their vows. Aria's heart swelled with pride as she heard her baby girl say "I do."

 They exchanged rings and Gemma held hers up happily for the crowd to see. 

"You may now kiss the bride!" 

The preachers voice rang out as Trenton pulled Gemma in for a long, long kiss. A tear slid down Aria's cheek and everyone cheered.

Sighing, Aria linked arms with Mila and they walked to the reception area. The girls got busy drinking of course and they all got asked one by one to dance. Ariana, Aria's old friend, Willow Hunter, and Danielle got asked the most.

Aria had given up even thinking of being asked and sat at one of the reception tables by herself, just taking it all in. 

"Hey you, do you want to dance with me?" A smooth ,deep voice asked from behind her.

She glanced up at the voice to see who it belonged to and was surprised to see it was Carter. 

She smiled and got up.

"Why not?" He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He put his hands on her waist and they swayed to the music. Thankfully for Aria it was a slow song and no actual dancing was required. They danced for a few minutes, the song swelling and falling around them.

All of a sudden, Carter sighed. Aria looked at him, confused.

"What is it? I know I am a horrible dancer and all but I can't be THAT bad, we're not even actually dancing-" Carter cut her off mid-ramble with a chuckle. 

"You're not doing anything wrong, Aria. It was a sigh of relief. I am happy to be here, away from Hidden Springs for good. That town is rotten to the core."

Aria grimaced and walked to the side off of the dance floor now that the song was over. Carter followed her.

"I know, why do you think I left?" She asked. 

Carter's eyebrows crinkled. "I thought the only reason you left was to do this stupid challenge thing you've got going on?" 

Aria thought about the fact he didn't even mention graduation. Huh.

Aria was slightly offended. "It's not stupid!" She defended.

Carter snorted. 

"Sleeping with a bunch of different guys just to have a hundred babies is pretty fluffing stupid, A." 

Aria pouted. "It is not."

He laughed. "Okay, we'll agree to disagree then."

Aria huffed, but let it go. She knew she was never going to win this argument with anyone. 

She was just about to say something else when Carter's phone rang. 

She stood there, still fuming on the inside, waiting for him to be done.

"Hey look, I gotta go. Apparently my maid locked her stuff in my house somehow." He rolled his eyes and shrugged.

Aria smiled and gave him a little wave. "See you later, Carter." She called. 

"Bye, Aria. Take care of yourself. I'm sure I'll see you soon." And he left.

"Was that who I think it was?" Mila asked from behind Aria, making her jump. 

She scowled at her. "Don't DO that." 

Mila laughed. "What were you and Carter talking about?"

Aria shrugged.

"Nothing really, we just danced. He thinks our challenge is stupid. Figures." 

Mila laughed. "Most people do, but that's okay. Come on, everyone is looking for you." 

Aria took her hand and she led her back to the dance floor, wondering the whole way what was so different about Carter. She just couldn't put her finger on it.

Aria shrugged it off, rushing over to Danielle, Willow, Azalea, Gemma and Armani. It was time to enjoy the rest of her baby girls wedding party. She would figure everything else out later.