I woke up to the bed dipping beside me making me shift. "It's almost noon." Ethan stated softly as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear making me groan.

"I don't care." I mumbled making him chuckle as I dug my face further into my pillow. "How are you feeling?" He asked after a few long minutes of silence.

"Could be better." I stated as I finally looked up at him ignoring the sun burning into my eyes. "Is Ian home?" I asked making him nod before laying down beside me.

"I don't know what to do." I confessed as my voice broke after a few minutes of comfortable silence. "About what?" He asked as he pulled away to look down at me.

"I-I'm sorry you have been trying to keep this a secret from your family. And Liam and Colton. I wish that- I wish I were as excited about this as you." I breathed in a low voice making him sigh as he wiped my tears away. "I mean I-I am excited. I just-" I started to ramble making him cut me off.

"I understand, baby." Ethan replied making me look up at him. "I'm scared." I breathed quietly trying not to break against him as tears continued to fall.

"Of what?" He asked again softly making me look away from him again. "Ian and I- We were never close. Even after our parents died. W-We never had a brother sister relationship I wished we had. That you and Sarah have. But his opinion means everything to me." I started as I looked up into his deep brown eyes filled with confusion and sadness burning holes into mine.

"I want- I need him to understand. Even though everything about us is so hard to understand. I need him to understand our relationship and to be understanding of you. I-I need him to not be upset when I tell him I am... That I-I am pregnant. Because it is taking everything, I have to not breakdown into confusion and stress myself. But I know that is a lot to ask of him." I confessed as my voice broke making a sob escape my throat. Ethan pulled me closer to him before softly wiping away my tears.

"I'm not brave enough to tell him and be prepared for what he might say." I continued as Ethan ran his fingers against my back soothingly. "We can take as much time as you want." He breathed softly before kissing my forehead making me close my eyes.

"Hey, Mia." Ian said not looking up from his phone as he ate lunch. "W-What do you think of Ethan?" I asked hesitantly as I heard the front door close behind Ethan.

"What do you mean?" He asked still not looking at me making me turn to fix myself breakfast. "Do you like him?" I asked softly as I poured my cereal making him shrug.

"Yeah, I guess." Ian answered finally looking at me making me nod not wanting to see his confused gaze burning holes into me. "Why? Did something happen?" He asked making me shake my head quickly.

"No, I'm fine. W-What if I planned something for the both of you. T-To hang out and finally get to know each other." I asked trying to find a way to make them more comfortable around each other. Ian instantly scoffed as he shook his head making me frown.

"No, Mia. That sounds awful." He groaned making me frown further. "Please, Ian. I don't plan on breaking up with him again any time soon. So, I would like to have you get along with him. You're my brother and I care about what you think of the men I date." I pleaded as my eyes met his beautiful green ones making him sigh.

"W-Who knows? You might actually end up liking him." I sated through a weak worried smile making him roll his eyes. "Fine. Just for you." Ian replied through a smile making me sigh as a huge weight lifted.

"Thank you, Ian. This means a lot to me." I said trying to hide the sadness in my voice. "I'll see you at ten." He said as he stood with his phone and wallet making me nod as he left the house.

Once I finished my breakfast, I started cleaning the dishes as I looked out the small window. I ran my soapy hand over my stomach making me sigh as I buried my thoughts and worries. My phone went off as soon as I finished making me grab it after drying my hands.

'Work ended early. On my way over.' Ethan texted with a wink emoji making me chuckle softly as I replied.

I placed my phone back on the counter as I opened the cupboards to take out baking ingredients. As I made Angel Food cake, I got lost in my thoughts making me sigh.

I hoped Ian and Ethan will start to get along. To at least make an effort to get along. It was the only thing I could come up with to make Ian more comfortable around Ethan. Especially when I tell him our news about me being pregnant.

"What are you making?" Ethan asked as he sat across me as I stirred the batter. "You startled me." I breathed making him smile.

"I knocked. You made me nervous, so I used my key." He said making me nod as I started pouring the batter in the pan. "Sorry." I replied making him nod as I anxiously looked away from him.

"Ian wants to hang out with you one day. To get used to you." I lied as I slid the pan in the hot oven. "Ian?" Ethan asked amused knowing I was lying making me roll my eyes.

"Okay, fine. I wanted you two to hang out. He was reluctant to say the least." I replied making him chuckle loudly making my heart flutter. "Okay. When?" Ethan asked after a few moments making me frown expecting him to protest like Ian.

"You aren't going to argue?" I asked making him smile up at me. "No. I know you are just trying to make sure we get along for when you tell him. I understand." He replied making me smile honestly for the first time today as my heart filled with warmth.

"Thank you, Ethan. That means a lot." I confessed as tears started to collect in my eyes. "It's even harder trying to explain how fine I am when I cry at a drop of a hat." I groaned as I quickly wiped off my tears making him chuckle as he continued to look up at me in awe.

"When do you want us to get together?" Ethan asked as I pulled the cake out of the oven. "Maybe tomorrow. If you're free." I answered making him nod.

"I'm always free for you." He stated making me smile as my heart did summer salts. "What do you do at work all day?" I asked as we began to eat the Angel Food cake with strawberry sauce.

"Mainly office work now. Getting ready for when I inherit." Ethan answered making me nod weakly. "Would our child have to grow up in your family's business?" I asked hesitantly never looking away from my plate.

"Technically, yes. But it's up to you." He answered making me stay silent. "Did you have a good childhood?" I asked still not looking up at him as he cleared his throat.

"No." Ethan answered simply making me finally look up at him sadly. "My parents were never home and when they were, they would argue. Our nannies and maids were the ones who raised us. My Mother wanted him to be more involved, so he was, but it made him miserable. Finally, he had enough and just stopped working for them all." He explained creating tears in my eyes again as he avoided them.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan." I breathed as I walked up to were, he sat making him chuckle. "Don't be, baby. I'm fine." Ethan replied as I placed my palm against his cheek softly as he stood.

"I don't want that life for us. I don't want to end up like them. So, I will understand if you don't want it to be involved in my family." Ethan said making me smile weakly. "We'll worry about it when the time comes." I stated making him chuckle again as he leaned towards me for a kiss.

"You're starting to show." Ethan stated as I walked into the bedroom with a towel around my chest. "I know. It's only a matter of time where it will become obvious." I mumbled as I let the towel pool to get dressed.

"I just can't wait until I stop feeling guilty and can actually start celebrating." I confessed as I threw up wet hair in a bun walking towards him on my bed. "You have no reason to feel guilty." Ethan stated as I rested my head on his chest making me silent.

"School is starting next week." Ethan stated as he started running his hand along my back before pulling me closer. "Finally, I have something else to focus on. I hate being home all the time or working while overthinking about all this. I just want to fill my mind with useless facts and information." I stated earning a small laugh from Ethan making me smile softly.

"Do you want to inherit? Or is it just out of obligation?" I asked after a few minutes of silence making Ethan stop trailing his fingers against me aimlessly. "Before I met you, I wanted to. But now... I-I don't know." He answered hesitantly making me look down at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly making him smile up at my confused features. "You already know my feelings towards you. You make me want to be a better person. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be. I am so excited to build a life with you. And I can be and do those things when I am surrounded by so much death and corruption." Ethan stated as he ran his thumb along my jaw before tucking my hair behind my ear.

"I'll support whatever you'll do. I-I just hope you'll support my decision to not be involved in that life in any way. I don't mind if you tell me about your day and everything that happened throughout but I don't-" I started until I felt his hand snake behind my neck before I felt his lips against mine.

"What was that for?" I breathed as he pulled away making him smile up at me. "You're just so kind and understanding. I don't deserve you." Ethan answered making me roll my eyes as I failed to fight my smile.

"Yes, you do." I replied as I laid my head back down on his bare chest.

Ethan and I were now sleeping in bed as we faced each other. His arms were wrapped around me as one of my hands softly ran up and down his back slowly. My other was placed on my stomach making me smile softly as I slowly opened my eyes.

I was met with Ethan's relaxed features as his eyes closed making me will with warmth. I brought my hand up to his face before softly trailing his nose and lips with my soft fingertips. I slowly tucked a loose strand behind his ear before continuing to trail my fingers until I was met with his bare chest. I placed my palm softly over his chest feeling his heart beating calmly under it.

"I love you." I stated barely above a whisper as I ran my thumb across his jawline delicately as if he would shatter beneath me. "Love you more." Ethan replied softly not opening his eyes making me smile up at him before slowly drifting back to sleep.