Chapter Text
It was their 4th year of college, Marissa and Grace were sitting on the floor of her dorm because Ryland was still rooming with her old boyfriend. How he ended up with him as a roommate every year is surprise to everyone.
They were talking about everything and anything, with a few shots of tequila in their system. Where they were going after they graduated, what job they were 100% going to get, if they were going to stay in San Francisco or not, and wether or not they were going to settle down.
"Do you think you'll settle down? You know, after everything?" Marissa was honestly curious, Ryland was the type of person who just threw himself into his studies but you never knew what someone truly wanted deep down. Did he want to ever have a partner and kids? Or was it just his research for him?
"I don't know.." He trailed off as he looked up at her ceiling. She had gotten mood lamp that had damped the room in dark orange. "I don't think I'd be a good father. Plus for the fact I don't really want anything serious with someone."
Marissa gave him a flat look.
"Well okay—"
"You're such a liar, Ry! We both know that you cried your eyes out and got wasted last time your girlfriend dumped you!"
"That's different!" She just laughed and pushed at his shoulder. He was such a liar, Ryland was so saddened after his last relationship it was almost ridiculous. She still remembers having to rub his back after he threw up after getting wasted trying to forget about her. He came over and cried into her shoulder all night before he had the bright idea to go out partying. Unfortunately this isn't new for him. He wasn't fooling anyone. Least of all her.
"But seriously though, I'd think you'd be a good dad." Marissa looked over at Ryland. "You're just good at being there and taking care of people, I don't know."
Grace just gave her look over his glasses. He pointed at himself as if saying, Me? Marissa laughed and took another swig. "Yes you. Yeah you're an asshole some days but I don't know, I feel like you could do it. It's in there somewhere!"
Ryland hit her shoulder, "Oh it's in there somewhere? What's that supposed to mean?"
They just laughed together at the ridiculousness of it all. Ryland had asked her what she wanted and she answered truthfully. She didn't know. Marissa likes to think she'd like to get someone to settle down with but she's not sure about kids. She's too interested in her future career to really care about the possibility of future with kids. Their conversation had drifted away to other things but Marissa still remembers it. Ryland had a lot of love to give but nowhere to put it. She was sure he'd find something for himself, whatever that looked like for him.
What she wasn't expecting was to get a series of texts from him 3 years later begging her to call him.
- Missed Call from Gracie 🦢-
Gracie 🦢: MAR
Gracie 🦢: MAR
Gracie 🦢:OH MY FOR MARISSA
Gracie 🦢: ANSWE ME
Gracie 🦢: it's so urgent I don't know what to do help oh my god help me
Mar 🍻: Ryland??
Mar 🍻: What's up???
- Incoming call from Gracie 🦢 -
As soon as she answered her phone, she could immediately hear Ryland practically hyperventilating. What is going on that he had to call her this urgently? Grace isn't the type of person to persistently insist on calling you, he'd rather wait until you had time to talk even if it was too late by the time you answered. "Oh my god Marissa. You have to help me."
"What? What's wrong?"
"I'm having a baby. Me! Ryland Grace who can't even—"
"Ryland! What do you mean you're having a baby? What!"
"Oh my god, okay. Do you remember Molly?Yeah so— okay so she just met up with me right?"
"Okay.."
"and she was like yeah I need to tell you something. So of course I say yes, sure, whatever. And she tells me that she's pregnant??"
"And it's yours?"
"Apparently."
Marissa lets out a sigh and runs her hand over her head. "Okay. Okay so, what does she want? What's her plan, like- what did she tell you?"
"She wants to keep it. Well- okay she kinda already made that decision. She's like 6 months along."
"And she just now told you? God." The phone call goes silent as Marissa digests that information. Her best friend is going to be a dad? The Ryland Grace who went and took random pills from strangers at college parties? The Ryland Grace who could barely function in college because he did so many all nighters with her? "Yeah alright, so," She can't believe her best friend of 7 years just called her to tell her he's going to be a father. What the hell.
"She doesn't want to keep it though. Told me she just thought I should know and I guess- if I wanted to be in the babies' life or not."
"And do you?"
"I-" the line goes quiet, "I think I do Mar."
His voice wobbles out like he couldn't believe this was really happening. She couldn't blame him. "Did you tell her that?"
"No, I told her I'd tell her after I thought about it." "Okay. Then tell her tomorrow."
They continued their conversation for another couple of hours, just trying to figure out how he was going to raise a baby by himself. Ry had confided in her before that he hadn't ever grown up around babies. He didn't really know how to interact with them, never really had the chance to learn. Which she didn't bring up in this conversation because Marissa genuinely believes if she said anything about that he'd spiral again and she didn't know how many times tonight she could bring him back out.
They talked about what he should do before the baby comes, maybe take some classes to get ready as best he can. Learn how to hold a baby at the very least. One thing they both agreed on is that he was going to start therapy as soon as he could. Marissa has heard her fair share of his childhood stories and knows damn well he's terrified of being the same way as his dad.
So therapy it is.
—
Gracie: I'm so stressed right now
Gracie: help
Mar: Go outside with your lunch
-
Gracie: why did you know that would help
Gracie: thanks :(
Mar: I know your ass hasn't been outside in 4 days
—
Gracie: Mar oh my god help meeeee
Mar: Omg what is is this time man
Gracie: don't man me :(
Gracie: I haven't told Colt yet.
Mar: what????? Ryland.
Mar: You haven't told your brother
Mar: your brother!!!! That you're having a baby?
Gracie: :(
Mar: Grown ass man btw
Gracie: MARISSA HELP ME
Mar: omg okay
Mar: Why don't you invite him to dinner or sm and give him the news then? Take him to that one take out place he rlly likes so it softens the blow of you not telling him for a month!!!
Gracie: ugh fine
Gracie: I got scared idk
Gracie: What if he like never talks to me again for some reason and then I only have you to rely on while I'm taking care of the baby??
Mar: You know I'll always be there to help. But it's your brother, I don't think he'll genuinely be mad. Just say you were scared, be upfront abt it. He'll be understanding of your situation.
Mar: not to say he won't make fun of you tho
Gracie: that last part was not necessary
—
astrotau3 reposted
@leovidjo
Flirting? What the fuck do you want
*text from Mar 🍻: RYLAND GET OFF TWITTER AND TEXT YOU-*
—
Ry: Do you want to get dinner at Pasta Culture?
Colt: sure
Colt: wait why
Ry: can't I want to see my brother??
Colt: smth is up w you I can already tell
Colt:
Ry: LEAVE ME ALONE
—
Colt honestly has no idea why his brother wants to meet him in the middle of the week for dinner. Now, not that they don't get dinner, they do, but Ryland? Who at this very moment has his head stuck in his work that he literally forgets everything else exists, is texting him to ask him for dinner? Yeah no, something's up Colt just can't figure out what.
They meet at their favorite restaurant and sit outside. They haven't received their food yet but Colt can see his brother play around with the straw in his drink. He sloshes the ice cubes around and around and—
"What's up?"
Ryland sighs and puts his face in his hands. He looks up through his hands, "I'm having a baby."
Colt spits out his drink and looks at his brother with surprise. "What?!" Ryland groans and hides in his hands again. "Ryland? What do you mean your having a baby? With who?"
"Do you remember Molly?" Colt pauses, "I think so?"
"Whatever it doesn't matter, she told me a bit ago that she's pregnant and it's mine apparently." Grace scrubs his hands over his face. "I don't know what to do, Colt. I said that I'd take care of the baby because she wants nothing to do with it. Which is fine, I can do this. But I don't know a thing about babies and Marissa has been taking me to these classes where they teach you—"
"Ry, take a breath." Colt reaches out for his brothers hands, which Ryland hesitantly grabs back. He squeezes their hands together. "Is this what you want?" Ryland thinks about it for a total of three seconds before he answers, "yes." He breathes out.
"Then we'll figure it out, okay? Just, just let me know if you need anything, anything at all. I'm always here for you." Ryland smiles as a few tears slip out and he laughs.
"Thanks Colt. Love you."
"Love you too."
Colt pulls back as the waiter bring them their food. Another reason Colt knew Ryland had wanted to talk about something is the fact that he ordered sausage ragú, which he only ever does when he's stressed. His brother is not slick.
"When did you find out?"
".. last month."
"LAST MONTH?"
—
Mar: Have you thought of any names yet?
Gracie: Not really
Gracie: I've seen a few I like but idk
Mar: What abt Louie if it's a boy
Gracie: it's cute but idk
Mar: Do you have a preference for gender?
Gracie: Maybe? I'm not sure really.
Gracie: I think it'd be fun to have a girl
Mar: aww wait you have to let me do her hair if you have a girl
Mar: you'll be sending that girl in for picture day with two undone braids
Gracie: hey! Id learn!!
Mar: whtv
Mar: what abt Hazel
—
Colt: let me pick out the middle name
Colt: Hazel Colt Grace
Gracie: omg did Mar give you that name
Gracie: I am NOT naming my baby after you ugh
Colt: y notttt
—
7:00pm Friday
Ry: it's happening
Ry: now;'
Mar: omg??
Mar: are you at the hospital yet?
Colt: oh Ry I'm so happy for you
Colt: let us know how it goes
Mar: can't wait to find out what it is
Colt: $5 it's a boy
Mar: $10 it's a girl
Colt: deal
—
1am Saturday
Ry: it's a girl
Colt: oh Ry congrats!
Mar: Ryland you scared me so bad!! But I'm so happy for you
Ry: sorry, I was listening to the nurses
Mar: Not to break the mood or anything but Colt
Colt: oh my godddd
Mar: those ten dollars are mine
—
9am Saturday
Mar: do you need me to come over?
Ry: please
Mar: want me to bring your brother?
Ry: no, he's out of town right now.
Mar: omw
—
Marissa arrived at the hospital as soon as she could. Ryland had been texting weird which was totally expected, he just became a father. But she knows he needs company right now. Marissa isn't sure how close Molly and Ry were at this moment but she could guess probably not too much talking happened this past day.
Before she went up to the room, she stopped at the gift shop on the first floor. She thought about getting him some baby onesies but she wasn't sure what size to get. They also had really fun 'just born' ballons, but they didn't seem like the best gift. She eventually decided on a cute bunny plush. She would have the pleasure of getting the baby her first gift! What a cute notion. She had it put in a pastel pink gift bag and went to the 3rd floor.
She found Ryland standing at the nursery room looking through the window. She spared the room a quick glance, she wasn't sure which one was his but god did he look happy. Scared yes, definitely, but behind all that was a love that was about to burst out of his chest.
"Ry!" Grace turned and his shoulders dropped, he held out his hand for her and she grabbed it instantly. "Which one is she?"
Ryland pointed to a baby wrapped in pink in the middle, surrounded in a sea of blue, she stood out amongst everyone. She was so cute! Marissa was pulled out her thoughts when she remembered she had her gift bag. She looked away from the little girl and handed it over to ryland, "I got her first gift."
Ryland looked like he was going to cry but he smiled and slowly opened it. She could tell he liked the pink bag.
"Oh."
Marissa caught his face in time to watch it crumple up and cry. He tucked his face into the stuffed bunny. Marissa just huffed and rubbed his back. Ryland just went though a change in his life she would be surprised if he didn't end up crying.
He got his wish though, he got the girl he wanted. She wonders distantly what he's going to name her. Last she knew he got full rein on her name. Not that he ever said, but she's fairly certain he has a name in mind. He always shot down her name suggestions (even though Lily was such a cute name!).
"What name have you picked out?" Ryland hugged the bunny and looked forward at his daughter. He was quite for a moment before he mumbled out, "Maybelle." She just smiled and brought her arm around his shoulder and hugged him.
"It's perfect."