Chapter 573: Support

Three months; Olivia had found out that she was three months into her pregnancy, which meant she was already carrying at the party she and Willow threw for Mina. She started to search her memory, feeling guilty that she had a drink with Bastien while a baby was growing inside of her, but she did not panic much because she remembered how watered down the beverage was.

The clinic she and Dom had gone to was part of a religious organization, and they required her to watch several videos about the development of a fetus. She learned more information in the short fifteen-minute clip than she had ever learned in school, especially the sex education parts.

Olivia knew that Peter had never released inside of her, but according to the video she watched, he did not have to, and with all the chances they took, he may have made a mistake that they did not notice.

"How are you feeling?" Dom asked. "He was unusually sweet, and she appreciated every minute of it."

"Mina was right. I just needed time to think." Dom already knew Olivia was going to side with Mina. She saw the woman as an angel, and truthfully, there were times where even Dom wondered if she was some sort of deity. She was so loving and forgiving that it seemed otherworldly.

"So, is it safe to say that I am going to be an uncle?" Olivia burst into tears and Dom pulled over, apologizing for making her cry. "Sorry, what did I say wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just that I am going to hold you to that statement forever." Dom kissed Olivia's forehead and they continued the drive home.

When they returned to the apartment, four anxious women were already waiting. They had made all Olivia's favorite foods, and had scrubbed the apartment spotless, likely trying to give her less to think about. Dom had not realized it before, but Olivia was a very neat person. Cleaning was something she said she picked up from Mina, and later realized that she enjoyed.

No one spoke as they waited for Olivia to settle in, but eventually Jay lost her patience, and Willow followed suit. Mina and Mills looked to be the most concerned, and when Olivia told them that she was going to keep the baby, the two women breathed out deeply. Willow seemed a tad disappointed, but she masked it well.

"So, what is the plan?" Emma asked. "Dom can't pretend to be your husband forever." Olivia told the women that she was about twelve weeks into her pregnancy, so it gave her at least another three months to prepare. She did not have to say much because Mina was already doing mental calculations.

"How much money can you part with right now?" Mina questioned, and Olivia was honest in saying that she did not have much. Because Mina did not live with them, the women were expected to pay rent, and even though it was split five ways, it still took up a lot of her earnings. "That is okay. Mills doesn't need my support anymore." As if on cue Mills handed Olivia a card that she said had enough money on it to pay three months' rent.

"What is this for?" Olivia felt guilty taking the card without knowing what she was expected to do with it.

"You should have three or four months before your belly grows. When that time comes, I want you to use the money on the card to care for yourself."

"She should move before the baby is born," Willow added.

"That would be good. She can go to The Four Cities to give birth and apply for dual citizenship later." Olivia was overwhelmed by the conversation going on around her, but not in a bad way. She was relieved by the amount of support she was being given and shown, and she wished she could share the moment with Cylus as well.

"Dom; any suggestions?"

"She needs a husband. It doesn't matter whether he is real or not, but if her secret gets out people need to think she is married," Dom replied.

"How would I do that?" Mina held up her hand and showed Olivia her finger.

"Since I started wearing this, no one has looked at me twice." It was the truth, when Mina and Mills first ventured out of the protective circle that had been placed around them by Drax, Several men had flirted with her, but once Mina showed them her ring, they backed away.

----

Mills and Mina stayed the night at the apartment and left late in the afternoon. All night, the women had been talking with Olivia about how they planned to help her with her pregnancy. Olivia was scared, which she had every right to be, but by the end of their discussion, her tears had switched from tears of fear to tears of sadness.

Olivia missed Cylus, and she wanted him to share in the moment with her. Mina did not think it was a good idea to hide it from the man, but she wanted Olivia to be completely sure before she made her decision. In the end, they settled upon waiting until Olivia was showing, and Mina also decided that she would work for Olivia and Willow to help her prepare.

Mina did not think she was a miracle worker, but she knew she could manage Willow and Olivia's earnings better than they had been doing, and she hoped that the Mark of Achievement she was awarded would help the women pull in more projects.

----

Mina and Mills alighted from the car and Drax was already waiting for them outside of the Staton family home. He scooped Mills into a hug, and deeply inhaled her scent. Mills had mentioned the new habit to her in the past, but it was the first time Mina was seeing it.

Once inside, Mina went to find Milo. She needed his help with something, and she hoped he was in the mood to speak to her in private. Milo was not a chatty person, but lately, he had become withdrawn.

According to Mills, he was taking his breakup with Cala poorly, and although the woman had gone back to Sani, the fact that she was now dating Cade must have been too much for him.

"If you are here to tell me that I need to move on, and that I can do better, please tell my sister that I am not interested." Mina giggled.

"I need your help with something. I don't care about your personal life and considering the fact that you are still in the Staton home and not back in your own apartment; there is something everyone else is missing, and don't you dare blame Mills." Milo smirked.

"What do you need my help with?"

"Your sister tells me that you are an engineer."

"Sure," Milo responded.

"Hey, don't be a jerk to me. I still haven't fully forgiven you for allowing Ellie to hit Mills even though I know you noticed that she smelled like an infirmary."

"And you need to use your brain. I allowed it because she smelled like a walking hospital." Mina shrugged. "What do you need my help with?" The man questioned.

"I know a little about mechanical physics, but not enough to build anything."

"Nope." Milo said flatly. "If you are coming to me, it means that you are sneaking around, and if you are sneaking around, from what my sister and Drax have told me, it means you are doing something you aren't supposed to be doing." Mina's mouth hung open.

"Fine, continue living without registered patents of your own."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nope," Mina replied in an equally flat tone.

"Mina, stop playing around. What do you mean?" Mina stood up and Milo pulled her back to him, making the woman crash into his chest. "How are you so weak?" he asked, but Mina never got to reply, because happy shouts could be heard coming from the library doors.

"I KNEW IT!" Mills exclaimed.