Three days.

I had known I was pregnant for three days and still hadn't told Ashton yet.

I was terrified.

I was terrified of his reaction, of his thoughts on the baby. What if he didn't want one yet? What if he had changed his mind about having more kids? What if he said he wasn't ready and freaked out and left?

All of these ideas were ridiculous, I was aware, but I couldn't help but think them.

I avoided Ashton as much as I could.

I knew he thought it was because I was trying to move past the whole Harry thing, and that was true, but I really was just playing over every scenario in my head of what could happen when I told him I was pregnant.

But I only had one idea. He would be upset.

I couldn't keep hiding it from him, that would only make it worse.

I had to do this. I had to tell him.

Forcing myself from the sofa I stuffed my feet into my running shoes, lacing them up and then finding my black hoodie to wear over Ashton's tee shirt that I was currently sporting.

I adjusted the wrinkles at the ankles of my yoga pants and then took a deep breath, leaving the dressing room and heading out into the stadiums backstage halls. My feet echoed across the concrete as I heard the sounds of guitars and drums as the boys sound checked.

The volume became louder as I made my way through the halls until I reached the entrance for backstage, my head down as I walked up the metal ramp and onto the stage.

"Can I get a little more vocal in my monitor please?" Michael spoke into his microphone as I walked past Calum and to the back of the stage where Ashton was.

He was focused on sound checking his drums and didn't notice me for about ten minutes, a wide grin coming across his face when he saw me standing off to the side.

"Hey babe, come here!" He called me over and I hugged my sides with my hands, making my way over to him.

"Come on." He placed his arms around me and sat me in his lap, his lips going to my cheek. "How has your day been?"

"Fine, um but I need to talk to you." I answered and he squeezed my middle making me shift uncomfortably in his lap.

"Sure! Let's go." He pressed a few more kisses to my face and then allowed me to stand up, him following after me.

I walked outside of the actual stadium and into the back hall again, making my way to some of the giant equipment boxes, Ashton taking a seat on one while I stood in front of him.

"What's up?" He asked me, still smiling and I took another deep breath, opening my mouth to tell him the news, but the words got stuck in my throat and instead of telling him, a sob fell from my mouth.

My eyes welled up instantly and I brought my hands up to my face to cover up my tears.

"Woah woah woah woah woah. Hey, baby, what's wrong?" Ashton immediately stood up, his hands coming to my face and removed mine.

I was crying so hard I couldn't see and Ashton's hands flitted about me trying to figure out what was wrong and what to do.

This was it. I had to tell him.

"I'm- I'm..." I began but another sob raked through my body causing me to tilt slightly forward into Ashton's frame.

"You're what baby, you're what?" He asked me, his hands brushing my hair back from my face, and trying to wipe away my flood of tears.

This was the moment.

"I'm pregnant." I sobbed, my hands coming back up to cover my face.

Ashton stopped moving in front of me. "What?" He asked, his voice almost a whisper.

I was crying too hard to answer him.

"Did you say you're pregnant?" He asked, his voice still quiet and I nodded, not being able to speak.

"Oh my God...Carter, oh my God, you're pregnant!" He exclaimed and suddenly I was enveloped in his arms.

"This is amazing!" He placed a hand on the back of my head, pulling me into him, his voice was so excited.

I thought he was going to be upset. I thought he was going to be mad or sad or anything other than excited.

"You're happy about this?" I managed to get out.

"Car, we're going to be parents. Oh my God this is incredible!" He hugged me tighter.

I was confused, I didn't know how to handle this now. I had been prepared for this to go badly, not for him to be happy. Now I was still the one upset that we were pregnant and he was the one who was excited about it.

He moved back and took my face into his hands, his eyes searching my expression for any sign of happiness and when he found none a small frown appeared on his beaming face.

"Why are you upset?" He moved hands across my clammy and flushed skin.

"Because," I cried, "We cant be parents."

"Why do you say that? We already basically are to Gracie and Ender, this time it's just a baby of our own. Our own baby Carter." He smiled as he said this but I was still distraught.

"We're too young. We're not even married. How are we supposed to raise a baby when you're on tour? I'm only 19 Ashton, I don't know how to take care of a baby." I sobbed, hiccuping over my words.

"Hey, shh...calm down. Breathe baby, you have to breathe. You're going to have another seizure if you don't relax." He said as he hugged me back to him, swaying my body left and right and shushing me in my ear.

My arms that were trapped under his went up his back, my hands gripping his shoulders.

I buried my face in his chest as I tried to settle down, the last thing I needed, or the baby needed, was for me to have another seizure.

It took about five minutes for me to stop crying so hard, and regain my breath; Ashton's fingers gently running through my hair.

"Are you alright?" He asked me softly and I sucked in a staggered breath.

"I don't know." I sniffled and he reached two fingers between my face and his chest, tilting my chin up so I could look at him.

"You're not happy?" He frowned.

"I don't know what to feel. It's too much." I said shakily.

"I know we're young and life is pretty hectic right now, but we're having a baby, Car. Half me, half you." He stroked my cheek.

"Ashton, we aren't even married." I shook my head.

"People have kids out of wedlock all the time. It's not a bad thing. It's unexpected and it's scary but Carter, you and I are bringing a new life into this world. We are going to be parents." He tried to console me.

"But still, you're on tour, you have the new album coming out and you're going to be gone to promote it, I can't raise Ender, Gracie, and a baby all by myself." I dabbed underneath my eyes.

"You are not in this alone, Carter. This is my baby too, and I'm going to be there every step of the way to take care of it and you and Ender and Gracie. We still have time."

"Not really." I shook my head as tears came down my face again.

"What do you mean not really? How far along are you?" He continued to stoke my skin.

"Almost six months." I answered and his eyes widened as he took a step back.

"Six months? Are you sure? Carter, you don't even look pregnant."

"I know. But I'm sure."

"How long have you known?" He asked.

"A few days. I took a test three days ago and then Becca took me to a doctor so we could make sure."

"Why didn't you tell me when you first took the test?"

"Because I didn't want to tell you I was pregnant and then be wrong. And I was scared of how you were going to react."

"Carter, why would you think I would be anything but happy?" He shook his head, a look of disbelief on his face.

"Because we're not ready to have a baby. You can't deny that Ashton. We haven't even been together a full year, and we're now having a child together? This changes everything, our lives are never going to be the same after this." By the last word I had broken down into a fresh wave of tears again.

"Hey, come here." He pulled me back into his embrace. "I know this is scary, and believe it or not I'm scared too. But Carter, I can't even begin to describe to you how happy I am right now. This is all I've ever wanted for us. And yeah,it happened sooner than we thought..a lot sooner actually, but I'm so excited, and I want you to be excited for us too."

My head nuzzled itself into his chest.

"I'm just so scared."

"I know you are, but it's going to be okay. We're going to do this together." He said against my hair.

I nodded against him, my
fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt.

"I love you so much Carter." He hugged me tighter.

"I love you too." I said back, my voice breaking.

He held me for what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes.

"So, what did the doctor say when you went?" He asked me and I sighed.

"Uh, well I'm five and a half months along which means I'm in my second trimester and everything's looking good so far. They did an ultrasound and I got to hear the baby's heart beat and I could see it on a little screen." I answered, a little smile coming to my face.

"Do you know the sex yet?"

"No." I shook my head. "I told them I didn't want to know."

"Okay." He rested his head on mine. "So how did you not know you were pregnant? I mean didn't you notice not having a period?"

"This is weird talking about this. But uh, I'm extremely irregular, so not having a period for a few months isn't that weird for me. The doctor said that me getting pregnant while I'm so irregular, during one of my first times having sex, and using a condom was like a one in a million chance." I looked up at him, his eyes gazing down at me fondly.

"Well if it was going to happen to anyone of course it would happen to us." He chuckled and I joined in.

"True."

"So if you're six months pregnant why are you still as small as the day I met you?" He placed a hand on my stomach sending shivers up my spine.

"The doctors said that every woman's body is different when carrying a child and its rare but not uncommon for a woman not to show. But if I do start to show it would be really soon."

"This is amazing." He smiled down at me and I blushed.

"So do you have any like weird cravings or morning sickness?" He asked me, an almost smirk etched on his face.

"Morning sickness." I smiled a little more. "But I felt the baby kick and freaked out, so Becca told me just to check and when we did, the test came out positive."

"Oh my God, Carter...I'm so happy right now." He hugged me again and then pressed his lips to mine in a sweet kiss.

My arms went around his neck and I pulled myself closer to him if it was possible.

"We're going to be parents." He whispered into my ear.

"Yeah." I whispered back.

"Are we going to tell the kids?"

"I don't think we have a choice." I laughed.

"What about everyone else?"

"What do you want to do?" I asked him.

"Honestly, I want to shout it from the rooftops, but if you want to keep this private then we will." He said to me, his hand coming up to brush my hair back.

"Let's just start with the boys and your mom and then we can go from there?" I suggested and he nodded.

"That sounds perfect." He bent down and kissed my lips again, my eyes closing at the amount of passion that he was using.

His hand slid down to my stomach again and he began to trace his fingers over the skin.

Suddenly the sound of someone clearing their throat behind us had me pulling away from him, my lips unfortunately leaving his.

We turned our heads to see John standing there.

"Hate to interrupt but we need to finish sound check." He said and Ashton nodded.

"I'll be there in a minute." Ashton told him and I gave John an apologetic smile.

John waved and then walked back into the arena.

"You need to get back to work." I played with the collar of his shirt.

"I don't think I can concentrate now." He laughed.

"Sorry." I gave him a little smile.

"No, I'm just so excited."

I let out a laugh.

"Come with me." He whined and I smiled.

"I'm a little tired though. I was going to go lay down for a bit."

"Do you feel alright?" He asked me, now concerned.

"No I'm fine, just all of the crying and the hormones made me really tired." I assured him.

"Okay, well I'm going to go sound check and I'll head straight to the dressing rooms."

"Alright." I stretched up on my tippy toes and pressed my lips to his again. "I love you."

"I love you too, Car. So much." He kissed me back.

I dropped my arms from around his neck and stepped back when Ashton bent down in front of me, lifted up the front of my shirt and pressed a kiss to my stomach.

"Ashton!" I pushed on his shoulder and he stood up laughing.

"I couldn't help it." He winked at me and I shook my head, a ridiculously stupid smile on my face. "Now go lay down my gorgeous pregnant fiancé."

"Yes Sir." I bit my lip and pressed my mouth to his before starting to walk away.

"I'll be there in a few!" He called after me.

"Okay!" I said, turning back to look at him with a smile and then continued on my way down the hall until I reached the dressing room.

It was empty except for me, so I took a water bottle and had a few sips before heading over to the sofa and laying down. I pulled my hoodie against me to keep me warm and turned onto my side.

Today had been emotionally exhausting for me and all I wanted to do was nap now. I rested my eyes and soon I was out like a light.

Not twenty minutes later, loud voices echoing down the hallway and into the dressing room woke me up.

I kept my eyes closed until they entered the room, the boys talking loudly amongst themselves.

My eyes opened and then I turned over so my back was to them and my face was against the back of the couch.

"Hey, shut up, she's sleeping!" I heard Ashton's voice whisper scream at them and then the voices all lowered to whispers.

I sighed and nestled my head back into the cushion, trying to go back to sleep. Suddenly I felt a blanket being laid over me and then Ashton scoot next to me, his body flooding mine with warmth.

I turned back around so that I was facing him and he put an arm around my shoulders as I used his collar bone as a pillow.

"It's freezing in here." I mumbled.

"I know. Go back to sleep love." He whispered and I felt and heard the smacking of his lips as he pressed a kiss to my cheek and I settled into him, drifting off to sleep again.

"Baby, wake up."

I let out a groan at the intrusion of my sleep.

"Car, baby, come on." I fluttered my eyes open to see Ashton crouched down in front of me.

"Is it time for the show?" I asked tiredly.

"The shows already over love." He touched my face.

"I missed it?" I asked, sitting up.

"Yeah, but it's okay. It's time to go back to the bus now."

"Oh okay." I said and stood up, stretching my arms.

I yawned as I grabbed my water bottle and shrugged off the blanket.

Ashton took my hand and began to lead me from the now empty dressing room.

"How did the show go?" I asked him.

"It was good. One of the happiest times I've been." He smiled.

"I'm glad." I chuckled and we reached the back doors where security was.

"You ready?" He asked me and I nodded before the doors opened and I heard the screaming of teenage girls.

There weren't a lot but there were enough to pierce my ears with their loud screams making me flinch.

They were thankfully a distance always though so we didn't have to stop for pictures, Ashton leading me straight onto the bus.

"Mommy!" Gracie gasped when she saw me and ran up to me, doing a flying leap and latching onto me almost pulling me down.

"Woah, Gracie." I said as I stumbled forward and Ashton caught me.

"Gray, you can't do that anymore." Ashton scolded her and she looked at him confused while I gave Ashton a disapproving look.

"She's fine." I told him and he shook his head.

"You need to be more careful now." He frowned at me and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm okay, Ash." I adjusted Gracie in my arms and walked to the back of the bus, not even noticing Michael, Calum and Luke sitting on the sofa.

"You guys okay?" I heard Michael ask and then Ashton reply "yeah" with a sigh.

I set Gracie down on my bunk and then made my way to the bathroom to wash my face and teeth.

Ashton appeared in the doorway and I set down my face scrub to look at him.

"I'm sorry if I made you mad." He leaned against the wall.

"I'm not mad. I'm just hormonal and still a little freaked out right now." I sighed and he moved to pull me in a hug.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but it's going to be okay. I promise you." He said and I nodded against his shoulder.

"I just don't know what to do or how to help you. I've never dealt with a pregnant person before." He spoke softly again.

"You're pregnant?" Someone asked loudly in the hallway and Ashton and I jumped back to see Ender standing there, his eyes wide and jaw dropped.

I snapped my head up to Ashton, looking like a dear in the headlights, his expression matching mine to a T.

"Uh..." I said, not knowing what to do.

"What's going on?" I heard Michaels voice say and then he, Calum and Luke were in the hallway too, the area getting a bit too crowded.

"Carter's pregnant." Ender said, with no emotion in his voice and I couldn't tell if he was in shock or angry.

"Wait, you're pregnant?!" Michael exclaimed and I slumped against the sink, my head dropping to my hands.

"Yes." I answered and you could hear a pin drop in the room.

"Wow..." Michael said and I looked up.

"Tell me about it." I sighed.

"Um, how far along are you?" He stammered.

"Six months."

"Carter, you don't even look pregnant." Luke shook his head.

"I know. The doctor said every woman's body is different, and I probably won't show for a few more days."

"You two are actually having a kid?" Michael shook his head in shock. "This is so weird."

I let out a breathy nervous laugh when all of the sudden an outraged Ender stepped forward.

"Why did you have to go and get pregnant Carter?! You're going to ruin everything! You always ruin everything!" He shouted and I leaned back in surprise.

"Ender I-"

"No! You always do this! You always have to be the centre of attention! You always mess everything up!"

"Hey, Ender. Calm down." Ashton stepped forward but Ender backed away.

"I hate you Carter!" Ender turned and looked at me with the most upset look I had ever seen in anyone's eyes.

I gasped as he said this and he turned away, pushing past the boys and running to the front of the bus.

Tears began to brim at my eyes and I choked back a cry.

"Carter don't cry." Michael came up to me and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm going to go talk to him." Ashton said and left the bathroom while Michael consoled me.

"This is all my fault." I sobbed into Michaels chest and he rubbed soothing circles on my back.

"It's not your fault Carter. It's not anyone's fault. This is just life, and it may seem like it sucks now, but in three months you're going to be a mom. You and Ashton are having a baby Carter, that's amazing." He said.

"Then why doesn't it feel that way?" My voice broke as I said this and Luke moved in to help me feel better as well, rubbing my arm.

"It's going to be okay." Luke said and I let out another little cry.

"Mommy?" Gracie's innocent little voice came from the doorway and the four of us turned to see her standing there with her thumb in her mouth, confusion written all over her face.

"Come here Gracie." Calum said and lifted her up. "You can come hang out with me." He said and carried her out of the hallway and into the back room.

Michael and Luke stayed with me until I had finally stopped crying, Ashton still not having returned.

"I should go check on them." I sighed and they nodded, giving me space to leave the bathroom so I could walk up to the front of the bus.

Ashton and Ender were sitting on the outside steps of the bus, the door closed behind them.

I stood there silently watching until Ashton placed a hand on Ender's shoulder and then stood up, coming back inside the bus and finding me there.

"What did he say?" I asked him.

"Nothing much really." He sighed.

"I'll go talk to him." I said and moved toward the door when Ashton pulled me back.

"Hey," He moved in close to me and pressed his lips to my cheek, "I love you."

I nodded and kissed his jaw and then opened the bus door and closed it behind me, taking a seat on the metal stairs next to my brother.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"I don't know." He replied, his tone was somber.

"End...I don't know what to say besides I'm sorry. I never meant to ruin anything for you. I didn't know this was going to happen."

"It's just that...lately everything's been about you, and I feel left out. Gracie came and I got left behind, then you got engaged and I got left behind, now you're having a baby and I'm going to get left behind again." He sighed.

"Ender that's not true. You're my brother, I'd do anything for you."

"It doesn't feel that way sometimes."

"I'm so sorry." I dropped my head into my hands. "I've been so focused on life, I never meant to make you feel unimportant."

"I know." He sighed.

We sat there for a few minutes in utter silence except for the sounds of the city around us.

"So are you excited about the baby?" Ender asked me and I let out a little laugh.

"Try terrified."

"Why?"

"Because I'm only 19, I'm not married, I haven't even been with Ashton for a year...and now I'm responsible for not two but three human beings."

"But you take care of me and Gracie just fine." He shrugged.

"A baby is entirely different. It can't walk or talk or feed itself. It's totally helpless and you constantly have to be there to watch it. When mom and dad died you were five, it was easier to take care of you, and the same thing with Gracie, but a baby..."

"But Ashton is going to help you right?"

"Yeah. But Ashton also has a very important and demanding job. He's not always going to be there. Ender I need you. When Ashton's not there I'm going to need your help. I won't be able to this without you End."

My eyes were becoming misty again and then I felt Ender's arms wrap around me.

"I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me?" He said and I sniffled back my tears.

"I'll always be there for you End, no matter what." I hugged him back.

I wiped a few stray tears away.

"I'm going to be an uncle or brother, or whatever you want me to be." Ender said randomly and I laughed.

"Yeah, you are. You're going to be the best big brother to this baby." I smiled and he looked up at me with a smile of his own.

"I'm sorry I said I hated you, I didn't mean it." He apologised.

"I know, I forgive you." I squeezed him. "Let's go back inside."

The two of us stood up and went back inside, Ashton sitting on the sofa waiting. He immediately sat up when we walked in and looked at me as if to silently ask if I was okay.

I gave him a smile and a nod, Ender walking to the back of the bus.

I stepped up to Ashton.

"I think it's time we tell Gracie."

He smiled at this and we walked to the back of the bus where Ender was and I placed my hands on his shoulders before leaning in to speak in his ear.

"Let's tell your sister."

He smiled before sitting next to Gracie on the sofa.

Ashton and I sat in front of her and he took one of my hands in his.

The boys all piled in as well to watch, videoing us with their phones.

Luke nodded at Ashton who was already smiling and he looked back at Gracie.

"Gracie, Mommy and I have something to tell you."

Gracie looked back and forth between us.

"I get present?" She asked.

"Well not exactly. You remember how you were a baby in Mommy's tummy, and that's where the baby goes until its born?" He asked her and she nodded.

"Well Mommy has a baby in her tummy right now." I smiled, everyone chuckling.

Gracie's jaw dropped.

"You're going to be a big sister Gracie." I said and a massive grin took over her face.

"You have baby?!" She sat up on her knees.

"Mhmm. We are having a baby." I laughed and she gasped before throwing her arms around my neck in a hug.

Tears came to my eyes as I hugged her, the guys cheering for us.

Ashton and Ender joined in on the hug, and I absorbed their love, feeling a whole lot better about the entire situation.

"Is it a boy or girl?" Gracie asked me.

"We don't know yet." Ashton patted her back.

"But I can show you a picture of it, do you want to see?" I asked her and she nodded eagerly.

I went to find the photo from where so had hidden it and then brought it back in, showing it to Ender and Gracie.

"See, there is the head, and its arms and legs. That's the nose right there, do you see?"

They oh'd and aw'd over the photo for a long time until it was time for me to put it up and bathe the kids.

When I was done I went to the living room where Ashton was sitting on the couch, looking at the ultrasound photo of the baby.

I flopped down next to Ashton, laying myself in his lap.

"If I cry one more time tonight.." I sighed and Ashton laughed.

"We've had a bit too much emotion for one day, why don't we go to sleep and we can talk about this tomorrow." He suggested and I nodded.

He slid his arms under me, lifting me up into a bridal carry.

"Oh, I don't think I can carry you anymore." He smirked and I smacked his arm.

"Shut up."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

He set me down in the hallway and I got ready for bed, Ashton taking over putting Gracie to bed.

He joined me in the bunk fifteen minutes later, snuggling up to me after taping the photo to the roof of our bunk.

"I know today was a roller coaster, but it was one of the happiest days of my life. I'm having a baby with the most beautiful and amazing girl in the world, and I'm so lucky."
He said as he nuzzled his face into my neck.

"You're going to be a great dad." I smiled up at him.

"And you're going to be an amazing mom." He kissed my lips sweetly.

Yeah, maybe this baby wouldn't be such a bad thing.

--

THEYRE HAVING A BABY THEYRE HAVING A BABY!!

Any guesses on if it's a bot or girl?

Also, how do you think Ann will react?

Harry?

More to come!

Much love xx-m