The next morning when Chip and Maddie were both in the bathroom getting ready, Maddie decided to bring up the trip to Italy.

"Baby!" Maddie says cutely.

"Yeah, beautiful?"

"I was thinking and.. well, ever since I found out I'm going to be a mom, I've really really been thinking about my own mom."

"Have you?"

"Yeah.. I really need to see her, Chip."

"I understand, and I fully support you."

Maddie smiles. "Would you go to Italy with me?  We could make it a babymoon!"

"A babymoon?  What is that?"

"Like a honeymoon before the baby's born.
A last child free trip." She smiles.

"Aw baby, that sounds fun!  Of course I'll go!  I don't want you going there all alone!"

"Yay!  Well I'll start planning it!  I'll of course have to speak with my doctors, but I think I'll be fine.
I'd like to go before I get too big.  I want to be comfortable!"

"I'm excited, Maddie!  Just you, me, and little Meatball." He smiles and rubs her belly.

"Heh!  Yeah, it's gonna be so much fun!"

**

Maddie then left Chip alone in the bathroom and went to pick out her clothes for the day.

"What are you doing?"

Jessica jumped when she heard Chip's voice.

"Sorry!  Didn't mean to scare you." He laughs.
"Whatcha doin?  Looking at your tummy?"

"And my ass."

"Both are great." Chip chuckles.

"I feel like my stomach is poking out today."

"I think so too.  It's growing!  You look cute." He smiles.

"Thank you!  My butt looks nice too, huh!" Maddie smirks.

"It always looks nice."

"Thanks." Maddie wiggles her butt.

***

Halloween.

"Okay, little Meatball.  You are fifteen weeks.. what are you doing playing with mommy's bladder already?  You are the size of a lemon!
.. Which I guess is pretty big when you think about it." Maddie shrugs.

"Anyway, I guess I'll forgive you!" She smiles and rubs her belly.

"Oh and guess what, little babe!  Your grandpa is coming today to spend the week with us before you, me and daddy head to Italy!  It's also so he can celebrate daddy's birthday! Daddy is going to be twenty eight years old! Your daddy is a baby!" Maddie laughs.

"Anyway, back to Grandpa! I bet you he's gonna be surprised to hear about you!  But he's going to be so so happy!  I know your grandmother is coming in a few days. She couldn't come with him because she had to work but.. I don't know how she'll react.  Hopefully in a good way! You are a blessing to mommy and daddy, and that's all that matters, little baby." Maddie pats her bump.

**

"Babe, we're here!"

Maddie hurries to greet her father in law.

"Hello, Robert!  It's so nice to see you!" She hugs him.

"It's nice to see You, Maddie!  You look great!"

"Thank you!" She smiles.

"Dad, come sit.  Maddie and I made something for you!"

"You made me something?"

"Mhm!  Here you go!  Open it!" Maddie hands him a gift.

"Ooh I didn't expect to get a gift today!" He chuckles.

Robert takes the back and tosses the tissue to the side.  He then pulls out a onesie that says, "I love my Poppy!"

His eyes went wide and he looked up to the two in front of him.

"What?  I'm gonna— I'm gonna be a Poppy again?"

"You are!  Maddie's pregnant!" Chip says with excitement.

"Oh my.. Oh my gosh!  Congratulations!" Robert hugs Maddie.

"Aw!  You're happy?"

"Of course I am! You're having a baby! This is so exciting!"

Maddie cries tears of joy. "We're so happy for this little miracle! He or she saved mommy's life."

"That's incredible. I'm so happy!"

**

Later that evening.

"It's baby bumps first Halloween, daddy!" Maddie smiles and pats her stomach.

"Aww!" Chip smiles and rubs her bump.
"That means you get extra treats!"

"Wellll.. about that.." Maddie says cutely.

"What?" Chip laughs.

"I sorta ate a whole bag of candy that was for the trick or treaters."

"What?!  A whole bag?  Babe!" He chuckles.

"You're gonna get a tummy ache."

"Probably.  But it was so goooood!"

"Well at least you're happy." He chuckles.
"But if I were you I'd slow down."

"I'll try!  The baby really has a sweet tooth!" Maddie says cutely as she rub her belly.

Chip chuckles and leans down to kiss her bump.
"Happy first Halloween, little Meatball!"

***

Four days later.

"Happy Birthday, baby!"

"Thank you, love!"

"Twenty eight!  How do you feel, honey?"

"Old."

"Oh shut up right now!" Maddie laughs and taps his arm.

"Heh!  No I'm just kidding.. I feel great!  I have a gorgeous wife, a house in the making, and a beautiful little baby on the way.  This is the best birthday ever!"

"Aww!  I love you, hubby!"

"I love you too, tubby!"

"Heyyyy!" She laughs.
"Watch it, mister!"

Chip chuckles and kisses her cheek.

**

After breakfast the three left to pick Veronica up at the airport. As Chip's father drove, Chip turned to the backseat and saw Maddie looking out the window with one hand on her bump.

"You okay, honey?" He asked.

"Yeah.." Maddie turns to him and smiles softly.

"You look nervous. Don't be."

"How?" She chuckles.

"Don't worry, Maddie. Veronica and I spoke.. she'll be fine."

"I just.." Maddie then begins to cry.

"Ugh I hate crying!" Maddie wipes her cheeks.

"It's okay, honey." Chip reaches back and pats her thigh.

"I'm sorry.."

"Don't apologize, Maddie! Veronica is scary! I'm her husband, of course I know that!" Robert laughs.

"She didn't come to our wedding, and that really hurt me." Maddie says in a hurtful tone.
"I feel for Chip because that's his mom!
His mom wasn't at his wedding and I feel bad that it's all because of me!" Maddie cries even harder.

"Baby girl, don't cry.. Dad, will you pull over so I can get in the back?" Chip asks.

"Sure."

Robert pulls over and Chip gets in the back seat.
He wraps his arms around Maddie and holds her close.

"Honey, I don't want you to feel bad, and I don't want you to cry. I love you and you come first.
I don't care if she wasn't there. It was the most perfect day ever! Just like the day we found out about little Meatball.." He rubs her belly.

"And just like the day he or she is welcomed into this world."

"I'm just sorry she doesn't like me. I don't know what to do. Most people love me! Everyone wants to be friends with Maddison Marino!"

Chip chuckles and pats her arm.
"Honey, we all love you! Everyone loves you!"

"Not your mom!"

"She will. Especially after she finds out you're carrying her grandchild! You just wait and see." Robert looks at her through the rearview window and winks.

"Thank you.." Maddie sniffles and holds Chip a little tighter.

**

As soon as the three saw Veronica walk out of the airport, Robert walked over to greet her.

"Be nice to Maddie.  She's a sweet girl."

"We'll see.  Now move, I haven't seen Chip in months!"

Chip held Maddie's hand as his mother walked towards them.

"Hi, Chip.." Veronica smiles softly.

"Hey mom." He smiles and hugs her.

"Happy Birthday, baby."

"Thanks!"

"Hello, Mrs. Martinez." Maddie shyly says.

"Back at you, Mrs. Martinez." She smiled and hugged Maddie.

Maddie was surprised, but quickly wrapped her arms around her mother in law.

Chip smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

**

Chip and Maddie decided on telling Veronica the next morning over breakfast.
The plan was to serve little baby sized pancakes, and throw hints throughout the entire meal.
But when Veronica woke up this morning, she was not in the best mood.

"Mom, Maddie and I made breakfast!" Chip smiles as his mother enters the kitchen.

"Oh she cooks?"

"I like her to be spoiled so she doesn't cook very often. But yes! She can, and she's an excellent cook!"

"I was planning on making some ribollita for lunch! It's my momma's recipe." Maddie smiles.

"What the hell is that?"

"Uh it's—"

"Don't bother, I won't eat it anyway." Veronica stops her.

"Oh.. okay.. well I can make something else!" Maddie smiles. She wanted Veronica to like her so badly.

"I'll make my husband and son something good to eat. You worry about yourself."

"Now wait just a damn minute, mom!"

"Charles!" Veronica was shocked at her son's behavior.

"Why are you talking to my wife with such hatred?"

"Oh Charles, not now!" Veronica brushes Chip off.

"No, we're going to talk about it right now!
If you don't like Maddie—"

"I don't."

"Then you don't need to be apart of my life."

"Chip—"

"Not only will you not be apart of mine and Maddie's life, but you will also not be apart of your grandchild's life."

Maddie looked at Chip with wide eyes.

"What?" Veronica says.

"Maddie's pregnant. We were going to tell you but, you ruined it!"

"You're pregnant?" Veronica looks at Maddie.

Maddie smiled softly and nodded her head.
"Yes ma'am. I'll be sixteen weeks in three days."

"Well you should be showing more than that! I thought you've gained weight but, now that you say you're sixteen weeks pregnant, it's not nearly enough!
Is the baby okay? You're old and you had cancer! This baby has no chance! You two are so selfish."

Maddie was shocked to hear her say that.
Suddenly the mama bear in Maddie awoke, and she Finally stood up for herself.

"Veronica! Yes, I am an older mother. Yes, I AM a cancer survivor. But that does not affect my baby or my mothering! How dare you call me selfish.
I love my child more than I have ever loved anything or anyone in my entire life! I don't want to keep you from your grandchild, but you need to change your ways. I will not have you speaking bad about me to my own son or daughter."

Veronica scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Saturday can't come fast enough! I came here to spend time with my son on his birthday, and I've had enough. Good luck to that child because with you as his or her mother, they're going to need it."

"Leave, mom. Now! Until you respect my wife and child, do Not come back."

Veronica looked at her son and smiled, "Gladly."

***
Next chapter we'll know what the baby is! 😁💗💙☺️