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Liz sighed as Conrad shut his door. He turned to her as she looked out the window, "You okay?"

"Mhm." She mumbles

"Remember the doctor said you'd be feeling a bunch of changes. Everything you've been feeling is normal."

"Still doesn't feel good."

The past two weeks had been a lot. Liz's body had been changing a lot as she had been about a month and a half into her pregnancy. She had been nauseous, completely exhausted, and noticeably more emotional. Conrad had gotten the brunt end of it which would end with Liz in tears and apologizing profusely. Though, Conrad never blamed her.

She had also began to develop a little bit of a bump. Which had her between feeling excited that this was happening and self conscious that her body was changing. Another thing that left her in tears.

Her dad had also pretty much doubled down on her. Though it hadn't been directly. He would make her mother deliver these messages which didn't feel any better.

Long story short, it's been hell.

"You wanna get something to eat?"

"No." She says leaning her head on the window

"Are you sure? You haven't eaten since earlier this morning."

"Not hungry."

"Okay." He says starting the car. As soon as he begins driving, his hand rests on her thigh. His thumb rubbing back and forth comfortingly.

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Dakota pressed the phone to his ear. Irritation rolling off of him in waves as he listened to the dial tone. He brushed his wrist against his brow as the phone clicked, "Hello?"

"Hey. Did you get that bullshit text from Mom?"

Liz sighs, "Yup."

"It's bullshit, right?" He says looking off ahead of him, "Like she's fucking with us. There's no way she wants us to sit through lunch with Dad. We haven't done that shit since we were like 10."

"I don't think she is." Liz grumbles, "Unfortunately."

"God, why is she so hellbent on us getting on good terms with Dad?"

"I wish I knew. He's been giving me shit the past couple of weeks."

"Are you going?"

"Duh." Liz says before she pauses, "You're not?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"If you don't go, Mom's just gonna double down. You know how she is." She says, "And I- need you there. I can't go by myself."

Dakota sighs as he squeezes his eyes shut, "Yeah, alright, fine. I'll- I'll go."

"Thank you."

"Look, I gotta go, but listen, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, alright?"

"Okay." Liz says, "Love you."

"Love you, too." Dakota says before he hangs up. He sighs as he throws his head back, "God damn it."

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Conrad looked up from his paper and immediately pulled his headphones off. He sets his pen down as Liz enters the kitchen dressed in shorts and his t-shirt, "Hey."

"Hi." She mutters as he scoots his chair back, allowing her to stand in between his legs. She leans her head on his shoulder, "I'm so tired."

"I know." He mutters against her forehead

Liz stands upright, "Will you come up with me?"

"Uh, yeah." He says looking down at his plate, "As soon as I finish."

"Okay." She says before he kisses her softly. As she pulls away, Conrad looks past her. She turns as Belly freezes in the doorway.

"Oh. You're back." He says

"Yeah."

"You've been gone for a while." Liz says. Belly gives a tight lipped smile.

Conrad pointed towards the fridge, "There's some more chicken in the fridge if you want something to eat."

"Uh, I'm... I'm not hungry." Belly says shaking her head, "I'm just gonna go to bed. Night."

Liz smiles as Belly turns on her heel and walks off. She turns back toward Conrad as he rubs her arm, "I'll be right behind you."

Liz nods before pulling away from him. She tucks her hair behind her ear as she walks out. Conrad smiles softly before turning back to his plate.

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Dakota looked over from the driver's side before looking back at the road, "Everything good?"

"Yeah." Liz nods adjusting her seating, "Not exactly looking forward to this."

"I'm not gonna let him jump on you, okay? I know I didn't really say much the last time and it was just because I didn't wanna make it worse." He explains, "But I'm not gonna let him get away with it again."

"I didn't expect you to say anything." She says, "It's not your problem."

"But you're my sister." He says, "He can't just come back in and decide he now wants to play father of the year. It's bullshit."

Liz looks over, "It's what he does."

"Doesn't make it right." He says looking over. He look back to the road and holds his pinky up.

Liz frowns, "What are you doing?"

"I promise that no matter what, I'm not gonna let him give you shit for anything. No matter what I support you." Liz smiles before hooking her pinky with his. Dakota nods as they pull up to the restaurant, "All right. Let's get this shit over with."

•••

Awkward was the only word either of the twins could use to describe how they felt. Conversation had only been brought up by Megan. They could tell she had tried her best to keep it as normal and relaxed as possible, but she could only do so much.

It was about halfway through their lunch when Megan noticed Liz had barely touched her food, "You okay, honey?"

Liz looked up, "Yeah, I'm just not that hungry."

"You loved this place though." Megan frowns

And she was right. Liz did love this place. She used to ask her mom all the time to come here when she was younger. Realistically, the smell of everything in the restaurant was making her nauseous. She smiled anyway, "I still do."

Megan nods before Ben straightens up, "Conrad couldn't show up?"

Liz looked over and shrugged, "Mom said it was just us. He didn't wanna intrude."

Ben raises his brows, "You guys been staying at the summer house since the dedication?"

"Yeah." Liz sighs

"What about work?"

"He was able to get a little time off." She says, "And he's not the only one with a job, Dad. I took off too."

"I'm just wondering. Since you're planning on getting married and everything." He says as Megan sighs, "You don't think he should be working?"

"We don't plan on getting married right away. There's still time."

"Time flies."

"Ben." Megan tries

"We've been working nonstop for the past four years." Liz says, "We were able to get a house together, we have a car, and our own jobs. As much as you would like to believe I can't handle this and that I'm still a little girl, I'm not. I'm an adult."

"You're 23, Elizabeth." Ben says, "You're young and you're jumping head first into this. Just like Belly."

"I'm not anything like Belly, Dad." Liz says, "Conrad is who I want to be with. We're not rushing into anything. We know exactly what we want and we know our priorities."

"You're not ready."

"God, Dad." Liz scoffs as she sits back in her seat

"Dad, you don't get to do that, alright?" Dakota says, "You've been practically nonexistent for years. The least you can do is be supportive."

"This has nothing to do with you, Dakota."

"No, it does." He says, "Because she's my little sister and I've never let anyone walk all over her and disrespect her and you're not gonna be the first."

Megan turns to Ben, "Ben, she just wants you to be happy for her."

"You guys can't expect me to just be happy about this. They didn't go about it the correct way." He says, "Next thing you know, she's gonna be pregnant."

"I am." Liz says

Megan and Ben's heads snap over. Megan's eyes go wide, "What?"

"I'm pregnant." She says

"Oh, this is just fucking great." Ben chuckles humorlessly, "That's why he proposed, isn't it?"

"No, we were engaged way before then."

"Honey, are you serious?" Megan asks grabbing her hand

"Yes."

"How far along?"

"Two months." Liz says, "I was gonna tell you after the dedication, but-"

"Wow." Ben says sipping from his glass before placing it down harshly, "What are you thinking, Elizabeth?"

"For fucks sake, Dad." Dakota says, "What the fuck is your problem?"

"You know, you haven't been making this any easier." Liz snaps, "I've been so stressed out since the dedication because of you. All I wanted was for my dad to be there for me and you can't even do that because everything has to be about you."

"You have no idea what you're doing. You're throwing your whole life away."

"Ben, you're not serious right now." Megan says

"What?"

"Regardless of how you feel about it, it's her life. If she's ready for this, she's ready." Megan says, "She's not a kid anymore. She's grown up and this is happening. Support is what she needs right now."

Ben leans back, "So, you're okay with this?"

"If this is what Liz wants, I'm more than happy for her." Megan says looking toward her daughter with a warm smile. She then looks back over at Ben, "I love our kids and I know you do, too. But the way you're going about this isn't right."

Liz looks over at her dad as he rests his elbow on the table. He scratches at his jaw and Liz knew then that she still didn't have her father's support. The thought brought tears to her eyes. She sniffles as she grabs her bag from behind her, "I think I'm gonna go. Thank you for this, Mom."

As Liz stands she rounds the table and hugs her mom. Dakota stands up as Megan rubs Liz's back, "I love you, honey."

"I love you, too." Liz says before pulling away. She turns away and walks toward the door as Dakota hugs Megan.

"Love you." He says as she kisses his cheek before following Liz out. As he makes it outside, Liz lets out a deep breath, "You did it."

"He's such an asshole." She says

"This is what I've been saying, Liz." He says, "But everything is on the table now. There's nothing on your shoulders. It's on him now."

"He's not gonna come around."

"Who gives a shit at this point?" Dakota chuckles, "He wants to be a dick, he can. You said your piece and Mom isn't pissed off. She's probably giving him shit right now."

Liz sighs and is silent for a moment. She tucks her hair behind her ear, "I'm hungry."

Dakota stares back at her then blinks, "What?"

"Everything in there made me nauseous. I almost threw up when that lady put my plate in front of me."

Dakota shakes his head as he looks down, "You know what? Fine. Let's find something."

"I really want a burger." She says following him toward the car

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