"AJ where did you put the potato salad?" Amanda asked as she looked in the refrigerator.

"It's already sitting outside with the rest of the food," AJ yelled from the back porch.

"Okay," Amanda yelled back as she drug out the soda cans. She brought them outside onto the porch where AJ was firing up the grill. "Honey do us all a favor and don't burn your eyebrows off this time," she teased.

"Geez a man turns his eyebrows to ashes one time and he never lives it down," he said with a grin.

Amanda snickered and kissed him. "Just don't burn the food."

"Yes, ma'am," AJ said with a smile.

Amanda rolled her eyes and went back into the kitchen. She put the rest of the food out on the table. "AJ I'm going to go put on my swim suit. Can you get the door if anyone comes?"

"Yeah, go right ahead," he said then kissed her.

"Be right back," she said as she walked back into the house and went upstairs to their room. She dug through the dresser and got out her black maternity swim suit. She put her shorts back on over it. She glanced at herself in the mirror and sighed. Blowing off her thoughts she made her way back downstairs. The doorbell rang when she reached the bottom of the steps. "I'll get it!" she yelled. She opened the door to find Nikki and Howie standing there. "Hey girlie!" Amanda exclaimed as she threw her arms around her.

"Hey Amanda," Nikki said happily.

"Come on in guys. AJ's in the back making the burgers."

Howie laughed. "I better get back there and make sure he doesn't turn himself to charcoal again."

Nikki laughed. "Come on I'll help you in the kitchen."

"Good, I still have to get out the plates and cups. And of course the desserts," Amanda said while rushing around.

"Whoa girl you better slow down. Don't put too much stress on the baby. Here let me take that," she said as she took the plates from her hands.

"Thanks," Amanda mumbled. Just then, the doorbell rang again. "I'll get that," Amanda said as she left the kitchen. Outside the door was Kevin and Sarah. "Hey guys! Come on in," she said.

The burgers were almost done by the time Nick, Kristin, Brian, and Rachel arrived. Everyone was in the pool having fun when went to the back porch.

"Hey guys! Come join the fun," Howie said from the pool.

"You bet!" Nick exclaimed as he took off his shirt and jumped in the pool.

Everyone else joined him as Amanda was setting up the table. When she was done she came up behind AJ and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Smells good," she said with a smile.

AJ smiled back. "Thank you. And I didn't burn my eyebrows off."

Amanda laughed. "Good for you," she said.

AJ took the burgers off the grill and put them on a plate. "Burgers are ready!" he shouted.

Everyone quickly got out of the pool and dug into the food. When everyone finished they sat around and talked. It was getting dark so Amanda got up and lit up the lanterns. After she had them all lit she took a seat next to AJ.

"Does anyone want dessert?" she asked.

"I do!" Nick said.

"Me too," Kristin said.

"Me three," AJ said with a laugh.

Amanda smiled and shook her head. "Okay I'll go get the desserts." She went into the kitchen to get the desserts. Amanda was cutting up the cake into smalls pieces when she felt AJ's strong arms wrap around her waist. "AJ what are you doing?"

"Just lovin on my girl," he said then kissed her neck.

"Okay," Amanda said softly.

"All right, what's wrong. You've been down in the dumps all day."

"Nothing's wrong," she said as she violently began to cut the cake.

AJ placed his hand on top of hers. "Then why are you killing the cake?"

"Nevermind," she muttered as tears began to well up in her eyes.

"Baby please talk to me. You're making me worry. Was it something I did?"

"No, you're great. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Something one of the others did?"

"No, nobody did anything," Amanda said as a single tear fell down her cheek. "Don't worry about me I'm fine," she said with her hands shaking. "Just go back outside."

"But--"

"AJ please!" she said in full tears. AJ stared at her in bewilderment but didn't move. Amanda wiped the tears from her face and drew in a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she said in almost a whisper.

"It's okay," AJ assured as he moved closer to her. Amanda walked over to him and placed her arms around him. She buried her head in his chest and sighed. "Maybe we should ask everyone to go on home. Then maybe later we can talk."

"No, I don't want to ruin anyone's fun. I'll just put up a front and move on," she said as she grabbed the cake and went back on the porch.

"Hey what took you so long?" Nick asked as he grabbed a piece and put it on his plate.

"I had to cut it up," Amanda said with a fake smile. She sat down at the table and noticed AJ staring at her from the doorway at the corner of her eye. Amanda blew it off and continued her conversation with her friends. "So what does everyone have planned while on break?"

"Kevin and I are going to Lexington over Christmas, but I think that's about it."

"Same here," Brian replied.

"I don't think Nick and I are going anywhere. Although it would be fun to take a little mini vacation," Kristin hinted.

Nick smiled. "You never know, I'm full of surprises."

"You're not going anywhere Amanda?" Howie asked.

Amanda shook her head. "I'm too close to labor. AJ doesn't really think it's safe to go anywhere. Maybe after I have the baby we can," she said while rubbing her stomach.

"That's probably a good idea," Kristin replied.

Kevin glanced at his watched and yawned. "Well, it's getting late. I think we better head on home," he said to Sarah. "Thanks for inviting us over guys. It was fun."

"No problem," Amanda said with a smile.

"We better get going too," Brian said. "I think someone's tired," he remarked as he looked over at Rachel who was leaning on his shoulder.

"Us too," Nick said. "We'll see you guys later."

"Bye," Amanda and AJ said as everyone left.

"I hate to say it, but it is getting kind of late," Howie said with a yawn.

"Okay," Amanda said as she stood up and picked up the dishes from the table.

"Here let us help you with that before we leave," Nikki said as she picked up a plate.

"No, it's okay. You guys go on ahead. I can get this," Amanda insisted.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, you guys go on home."

"Okay, well, I'll call you tomorrow we'll go have lunch or something."

"Sounds good," Amanda replied as she gave Nikki a hug. When Howie and Nikki had left Amanda went into the kitchen and placed the dishes in the dishwasher. She looked around, but AJ was no where to be found. Not really thinking much of it, she started the dishwasher and went back outside. Amanda sat at the edge of the pool and stuck her feet in the water. She was lost in her thoughts when she saw a shadow cast over her. Amanda looked up to see AJ there.

"Are you ready to talk?" he asked as he sat down next to her.

"No," Amanda mumbled.

"Fine," AJ replied as he lit a cigarette.

Amanda rolled her eyes and pulled the cigarette from his mouth. "I really wish you'd stop that crap."

"I'll smoke if I want to," AJ snapped.

"Excuse me!?!"

"What? You bitch at me, I'll bitch at you."

"Alexander James McLean why are you being such an asshole!"

"I'm not being an asshole I'm just trying to get you to talk to me. I want to know what's going on with you. And I want to be able to help."

"Well, maybe I don't want your help," Amanda said in a huffy tone as she stood up and walked back into the house.

"You know I don't understand this. Why are you being so cold to me? What did I ever do to you?" he continued as he followed her.

"What did you ever do to me? Just look at me for Christ's sake! I'm a freaking blimp! This is all your fault."

"My fault? Excuse me it takes two to have a child. You can't blame this all on me all right? Besides I thought you wanted this baby."

"Well, maybe I don't wanna have this stupid baby anymore. Maybe I want to make my own decisions for once. Maybe....just maybe I want to do things my way and nobody else's."

AJ stared at Amanda in confusion. "Is this about the nursery? Because if it is I can have it changed."

"No, it's not about that stupid nursery!"

"Then what is it about Amanda. Talk to me please. I really want to know."

"I just....I....," she let out a sigh. "Nevermind you wouldn't understand."

"Fine whatever you want," AJ said as he grabbed his jacket.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to stay the night at my mom's. Call me when you're cooled off. Then maybe we can have this discussion in a reasonable manner," he said in an irritable tone and slammed the door.

Amanda watched him walk out of the house. He lit another cigarette and got into his car. She watched him as he sped out of the driveway and disappeared into the dark night.

Amanda stepped away from the window and sobbed. "I'm so sorry," she whispered then went to her room in tears.