BAD BOY SAVED (male pov)

Baby talk.

"Why were they shouting at each other?" Olivia asked me once the dust had settled and I managed to get her inside the tent, tucked up in her sleeping bag.

The effects of her marijuana were slowing wearing off, she reacted badly to it. Became very jumpy, worrisome and nervous. I think it was because she went into it unknowingly and then became frightened and paranoid once she realised and it was too late to do anything about it.

"He thought she was pregnant, she wasn't." I told her, keeping my voice low so that they didn't hear us. They were sleeping in the next tent after all.

I imagined them to go for round two once he had followed her into the tent but I haven't heard a peep from them so they either didn't resolve their issues and went to bed, argued really quietly or just maturely talked it through.

"That's crazy, I can't imagine them having a baby. Can you?"  Her question caught me off guard. I can't say I have ever even thought about him having a baby, or any of them for that matter. We've never even talked about having children in the future. It's not really something guy friends discuss.

I mean I know I want them but that's way down the line, after college, when I'm settled, when I'm married. But any of us having children now is bizarre. Would they have to quit school? Would they break up if one wanted to keep it but the other didn't? Am I relieved she's not pregnant?

I got lost in my own thoughts and when I clicked back into the now she was still looking at me waiting for an answer. It was a sensitive topic, he was my best friend but Tia was hers. I didn't want to wager an opinion because I didn't want us to be dragged into it. So I shrugged.

"You can speak freely Liam, it's just me and you." She encouraged and I offered her a small smile, why did my opinion matter so much about this, it was non of my business. Unless she was side-asking about our future baby and how I would feel.

Shit that just added pressure.

"If it were me, I would want to wait." I answered honestly. She raised her eyebrows at me and I wasn't sure if I passed the test or not. So I continued, promising myself to only be truthful. "I would want to be sure that when my child was born I was past all of this bullshit. I want to be able to hold my child without fear. I want my child to run and jump into my arms unexpectedly and not flinch or be instantly transported back to a dark place in my mind. I want to be able to cuddle my child on my chest and still breathe easy as I do."

Her soft features glowed at me through the darkness of the tent, they were illuminating the insides and she looked pleased with my answer. Within her expression was love, care and compassion. I felt in that moment that she understood completely and I couldn't help but give her a shy smile.

"Liam I don't know what to say" she whispered but I didn't need words, she had already told me everything with just her face.

"That's just me. Their situation is completely different. He would be a good dad, he would stand by her." That's all I opted to say on the matter. I wasn't going to get involved in my best friends relationship and I certainly wasn't going to drag my relationship into it. This baby didn't even exist. But if it did I know that Jordan would want to keep this baby, no questions asked. If Tia didn't feel the same way and ultimately it would be her choice I know that would break him. Physically and mentally destroy him.

"I would stand by you, of course. I would love our child with every ounce of my being whether it came today, tomorrow or in ten years. But if it were me, I would prefer to wait." I felt like I needed to add that, especially after my whole speech about wanting to wait. I needed her to know I would stand by her, I would hate for her to ever be in a position of worrying about telling me she thought she might be pregnant.

She grabbed my cheeks and squeezed my face up then planted a kiss on my squished lips.

"I love you so much" she said in a high pitched tone.

"I love you too, you weirdo" I laughed.

"I'm going to talk to Tia." She wiggled out of her sleeping bag, stole one of my hoodies and made her way towards the tent door.

I lay back, staring at the navy waterproof lining of our tent roof. I couldn't help but think of our future babies now and how they will all grow up together.  We will be bringing them on the yearly camping trips for years to come. They will always have each other's backs, just like we do.

I snuggled into my sleeping bag and closed my eyes smiling to myself. I never imagined it before but after tonight I could see Jordans baby as clear as day in my mind. He or she would be chubby, with lots of cute baby rolls. The baby would have dark eyes like them both but pretty like Tias, all eyelashes and twinkles. The curls would be insane! He or she would have Jordan's loyalty, caring nature and unfortunately humour. But they would get Tias stubbornness and sass.

I could honestly love that little baby just like my own. I would make it my sole mission in life to spoil them rotten.

Lying alone in that tent, listening to the rustle of the trees blowing in the wind a sentimental realisation dawned on me. We will be building a family, not just Liv and I, but Jordan, Zak and dare I say it even Ben. A real life family, filled with unconditional love. We will spend the holidays together and go to all the soccer games or dance recitals, we will support their dreams and fight whoever breaks their hearts.

The prospect of growing a real, solid family sent a warm tingle throughout my body and made my heart swell to twice the size. One day I will be a husband, a dad, an uncle and a friend and suddenly, knowing all of that the future didn't seem scary at all.