We got to see Jamey’s reaction to Posie girl having a baby… how does Ran handle being a great grandpa. Or the rest of the Drysdale clan? 🥺
Oof...so this is going to take place after Iris gets that call from Matt. This family is one that sticks together. We know that Aster and Beck were heading to the estate, but they all head to the estate. So we're going to see the WHOLE family finding out about Posie's pregnancy, but then how each set of families is dealing with this behind closed doors.
🖤🖤🖤🖤
Tell Yourself That
Summary: at the estate
Pairings: The Drysdale’s
Rating: mild
Warnings: language, worried, 18+ ONLY
Word Count: 3.8K
Desperate Lives AU Masterlist
Posie Rogers Masterlist
The family sits in the largest family room, the kids already tucked in beds, while the parents bounce around nervously waiting on answers. “Is someone gonna tell me why I had uproot my kids here?” Aster asks, getting a hand laid on her shoulder from Beck.
Even Posie looks around confused. Her hands covering her stomach as Jax scoots closer to her. “Icy, you text everyone,” Blade looks towards his sister, but quickly to James who’s jaw flinches with how hard he grits his teeth.
“It was just Az, Beck, and the kids that needed to be here.”
“Oh, horse shit,” Lucy adds in being held in Chris’ lap. “You text Blade and Carter and say to up the security on the property, and you expect us to act like that is nothing. So what’s going on?”
Iris takes a calming breath, grabbing tightly to James’ hand. “We all know about the Wendy situation, but it’s worse than we thought.”
“Mrs. Rogers?” Jax asks, situating Posie to bring on his lap. “What do you mean?”
“Wendy works at your pharmacy. I discovered this when you asked me to pick up your vitamins. I had my suspicions on what was going on, so I got the disposed pack of your pills for testing. Eva oversaw it, and they were sugar pills.”
“No,” Kitten let’s out a breathy whine, leaving Ransom to hold tighter to her. “Not my baby.”
Seeing her mother in pain, and reeling from her own memories, Iris struggles to speak again “Baby, I’m sorry you have to do this. But I believe you and Jax having something to tell everyone.”
Posie looks at her family, feeling so young and small for the first time. “Mom, I can’t do this.”
“Pose,” Blade speaks calmly. “It wasn’t yours or Jax’s fault.”
“I’m pregnant,” while everyone stares at Posie and judging their reaction. Carter’s eyes go to his best friend. Knowing that he’s angry and even more hurt because of this. “I’m twenty weeks, and Daisy will be here before we know it,” Aster’s voice chirps and she brings both hands to cover her mouth.
Story readjusts the sleeping Iclynn on her rubbing over her own swollen tummy with the other. Her face a mixture of sadness and happiness. She knew Jax and Posie would have kids, but it shouldn’t have been like this.
Lucy’s leg bounces almost uncontrollably, “That’s not why we’re here. Icy, what’s the rest. Why the security?”
“Wendy. Blade I’m sorry. I asked JJ to follow Wendy’s every move. They have a warrant out for her arrest and she’s not at home. But her phone was pinged by Posie and Jax’s apartment, my house, and Aster’s.”
“She was around my wife and children?” Beck never shows anger. Never shows fear. He’s always a perfect image of composure. “Was I there?” Iris sits silent. “Was my family there without me?”
“Yes, it was when Posie went to visit. And she took Abel.”
“Son of bitch. Is she capable of hurting someone?”
“Right now, we know that she has been to Posie’s campus, and she’s aware of where the kids attend school. Story, the school has been informed, and they’re sending everyone’s work remotely, and I’m asking if we can use the school room for all the kids?”
“Of course, but Blossom, she’s not used to all these kids.”
“Kira has volunteered to stay with you at the castle to help with younger ones. Harry as well, he’s shut down his stream…”
“I’ll work from home,” Carter interrupts. “Shep and the others they’re coming to the castle as well. His father puts him at risk, too.”
“This…I feel like this is too much,” Jax answers looking at everyone. “Wendy she’s a lot of things. But she’s not dangerous.”
“Jax,” Iris turns to look only at him. “Her phone has been pinged nearly everyday at your apartment. At all hours of the night and day. She gave your girlfriend, my daughter sugar pills. She came from nowhere to let you know you have a child. And Abel keeps talking about that window. Posie saw someone there. She’s been outside of your window everyday. She could have been watching you…we don’t know what she’s capable of. This may be extreme, but we Drysdale’s have the means to do this. You’re going to be granted temporary full custody of Abel soon. She’ll spiral because she’s losing the only thing she had leverage to hold over your head. This, she wants you and Posie apart. Abel is not to leave this compound. He can be here, the castle, or at the farmhouse. I want Blossom…”
“And Ope,” Jax adds in. Knowing that he’s been staying at the cottage with his new girlfriend.
“And Opie, they’ll be on the compound property unless he’s working. Story let her know that there’s room here, the castle, and farmhouse. Jamey and I are indefinitely at the estate. Jackson, this is what we do. We’re Drysdale’s. And you’re one of us now. And we take care of our own.”
She turns to look between Blade and Story, “I don’t think it should come to this, but I will be informing Beau, and my Pops. I need to know if there is room for them to stay…”
“Frank and Sugarplum are always welcome at our home,” Ransom quickly says. “If Beau and Bunny feel more comfortable with the kids here, we’ve got room. Hell, we’ve got two treehouses on the property with just as much security if they want privacy. Steve, Marta, Sammy, TJ, Emy, Joshua, I do not care who. If they would feel more comfortable here, then that’s what we as a family will do. They’ve always been there for us. And we’ll always be there for them.”
“Thank you daddy,” Iris whispers over towards him.
“Now, the estate is locked up tight, Marshall,” Ransom gives Story’s and the kids bodyguard a nod, “You know where to find your room?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Alright, it’s been a long night. And I can see some of you are anxious to get to your kids. Iris, is that all Angel?” she gives him a single nod. “Posie, Jax, do you want to check in on Abel before Kitten and I head to bed?”
“Please, Papa.”
“He’s safe with us, Posie girl. We’ll keep you all safe. Even if you’re a bit uncomfortable for the moment. Same for you Jax. Everyone to bed.”
__________
Aster holds tightly to her sleeping Stella. Orion in between her and Beck, while Beck stares blankly at the wall. His hand smoothing up and down Ayla’s back. A baby monitor on the beside table, the other one in the room with Atlas and a few of Story’s boys.
She takes one look over at Beck, who’s stoic face is hard, and not the kind one she’s used to seeing. “Moonbeam, what’re you thinking?”
“She could have hurt you guys. Or Posie, and I wasn’t there. I…what did she want? To scare us? I’m not scared I’m pissed. If anything happens to any of you, all of this big ass family…”
“Beck.”
“No, I’m serious Az. I can’t live without you or our kids. And because of that all these kids’ lives are uprooted. It’s not unusual for Story to be paranoid, but us? We don’t do this. I don’t even like Atlas and Ellie being away from us.”
Reaching over their sleeping son, Aster puts her hand on Beck, and gives him the best smile she can. It’s always him that comforts her. Always him that makes her see the positive, but in this moment he needs her. “Atticus is in the room with the boys, and Achilles is with Ellie and Otto. I don’t like it, but they’ll be okay. The most protected rooms in the house. We’ve got monitors in here to listen. Get some sleep.”
Beck scoffs looking at her, “You get sleep. I’ll sleep when I know you guys are safe. At our house. Where my kids go outside and play. I’ve got half a mind to add another house to the compound. Where do you think we can build? Behind the estate? It would be nice to be closer.”
“We’ll talk about it in the morning,” she pulls Beck into her arm and gives him a sweet kiss, “I love you Moonbeam.”
“Love you, too, Starlight.”
________
Blade paces around the room, leaving Zeus to watch his every movement, while Asiago is snuggled up tight to a star-fished Fable that sleeps upside down on the bed. Beckett’s cheeks pressed tightly against your chest, and like his daddy, is snoring away.
“Blade lay down.”
“I can’t.”
“You’re making Dr. Zeus nervous, and if he starts barking our babies are going to wake up. And Beckett needs his sleep. Fable, too.”
Sitting in the bed, Blade pulls out a tablet, but you go to lay it on his lap. “Enough.”
“Lo,” he starts but you shake your head.
“There’s nothing else than can be done tonight. You’ve done all you can. And I need you to get rest. You and JJ are going to be busy. You got to protect our Posie,” Blade blows out a puff of air and refuses to look at you. “What?”
“She’s too young.”
“She’s the same age I was when we started dating.”
“I didn’t get you pregnant,” you narrow your eyes at him. “I could have.”
“Many times over.”
“My ex didn’t give you sugar pills. She wanted a family with Jax. They wanted a house, and her to finish school, and she violated that. And for what? What is her end goal? Posie is pregnant, and Jax isn’t leaving her. In fact they’re closer. She’s having a baby. I remember when Iris was a mess and brought her home. James was still missing, and she wasn’t good. That was the first baby I held as an adult. And it scared me. I knew it was coming, but she took away their plan. I’m glad they’re happy and dealing. But it’s not fair.”
“I know. We’ve got a big day tomorrow, my Lord. How about, you awkwardly hold me, since we got a Squish and Asiago down there, and an Eggy in my arms.”
With a forced smile, he leans closer to you and pulls you into him. “You’re family has gone through so much.”
“Our family. You’re in it now. Stuck with us.”
________
With Iclynn in a connecting bassinet beside Carter, Brooks laying on top of him, while Archer is snuggled up close to Story, he leans over and gives his wife a kiss to her forehead.
His bright blue eyes looking at her blank ones while she goes from petting her sons to her husband. Carter holds gently onto the swell of her stomach, before pulling her chin up to look at him. “How are you feeling?”
“Why does this keep happening to the women in our family? First mom, me, and now Posie. But this time it wasn’t a man, but a jealous…she’s not an ex, she abused Jax. She’s not only hurting her own son, but our goddaughter. Our niece. And Jax looks like he’s scared to death that we blame him and we’re going to turn him away.”
“That won’t happen,” Carter speaks softly, but she hears the authority in his voice. “Your father, Blade, Beck, Chris, and eventually James can see his true intentions with Posie. We’ll protect him like our own,” he gives her another kiss as tears start falling down her cheeks. “Story, what is it honey?”
“It’s like she can’t enjoy it. She’s growing a baby girl, and she can’t enjoy this process. She loves school, and now has to learn remotely. And I don’t like that we’re missing four of our kids.”
“Otto is at that age where he doesn’t want to be sleeping with his parents. Achilles is with him and Ellie, and Atticus is with the other kids. Let them do their job. This is what they’re bred, and trained for. Not to mention Ollie and Noodle are with Otto and Ellie, and Ollie is an alarm system,” Buttercup lifts up her head to look at the two of them before army crawling up the bed. Laying her head on Archer’s belly. “Story, you’re growing our second daughter. I need you to get rest, because within forty-five minutes, Iclynn will need fed. We got the baby monitors in the kids rooms. Raiden is with Lucy and Chris. We’re locked up tight. Sleep my Queen.”
With a final lingering kiss, he maneuvers herself to lay her head on his chest, while her fingers wrap around his ring finger. Carter buries his nose in her hair and tries to stay calm, knowing that Marshall will protect them as well.
________
Lucy has to touch everyone in her bed. Raiden and Foxley snuggled up between her and Chris. The two of them on their sides as they just look at each other. He sees the fear in her eyes for her family. Lucy hates when they feel threatened.
Peppering kisses all along her hairline his hand drifts to her stomach, but she pulls it back up to sit his hand on her hip.
“Don’t be like that.”
“It’s too much, Bear. It’s all too much. They had a good plan. I thought she was crazy for staying with Jax when they found out about Abel,” Chris gives her a disapproving face. “What? I would have.”
“Aren’t you glad Beck and Carter didn’t do that?”
“It’s different.”
“Jax and Abel didn’t ask for this. I know you’re being a bitch because you’re scared. But all Jax has wanted to do is love Posie. All Abel wants is a family that loves him. Posie is giving that to him. Brookie, Fable, and Poppy love him. Remember his first time here?” Lucy nods her head beginning to brush his hair off of his face. Moving her hands to feel that Raiden and Foxley are still breathing. Overly paranoid about them.
“He was so scared. And now he goes up to the kids. And plays with them. Kids can’t have enough people to love them. And had Wendy not resorted to this bullshit, she would realize that we just want to love her son. None of this had to happen. There’s got to be more though. Who does that to someone and for what reason? That’s not a sane thing to do. And to watch them outside their window. It’s disgusting.”
“Christopher,” Lucy’s honey eyes look at her husbands face and gives him a weak smile. “You’re too good for this world.”
“Go to sleep, Honey Bee. Waffle, come here buddy,” the large marshmallow settles down close to Foxley, his little nose rubbing on her hand until her fingers wiggle on him subconsciously. “She’s okay bud. You did your job for today.”
____
Sitting up in the bed, with hand firmly on his wife’s back, while she uses Ransom’s stomach as her pillow. He can’t help but to be worried about her. Thorne clings to his Mimi’s back and Abel sleeps in between them, with his hand on her cheek.
She had told Ransom that Posie was pregnant. And while a bit taken aback, he wasn’t prepared for the news that her birth control was being tampered with. And with the hitch in Kitten’s breathing, he knew she wasn’t either. They’d had a good life. Had moved past the ugly of her life before him, and every now and then reminders of that time come back. But knowing that another one of their babies had been hurt by someone in that way, infuriates Ransom. If he could keep all of them in this estate and in a bubble he would. Protect them from everything that resides outside these doors. He knows it’s selfish and not feasible. But he’d do anything not to see any of them hurt.
With a deep inhale, and her arm wrapping around him tighter, he gives the love of his life a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, Mrs. Drysdale.”
_____
James paces around their bedroom, while Poppy and Oakley both crowd their mother. He hasn’t felt settled since the moment Posie tried to tell him she was pregnant. He wanted to be so pissed at Jax. Wanted to hurt him the way he’s hurting, but now finding out that this disgusting woman did this to his baby, it only ignites a flame even more.
“Jamey, come to bed,” Iris mumbles without opening her eyes.
“I can’t,” he responds. She finally opens her eyes to look at her husband. She can see his skin pulsing. It’s not just the fact that Posie is pregnant, but the way it happened. The fact she’s been followed, and being watched. “I’m fuming. If she hurts my baby…Ris, I’ll be in jail.”
“No you won’t. We won’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen. You’re mine, and I’ll fight whoever I have to, to keep you with me. Jamey, we have four children, three that have a lot of growing up still to do and need you. So you better quit talking like that. I won’t do it.”
“I know, Baby Doll. You good for a bit? I need to walk around?”
She wiggles are finger towards him, and he leans over her body to give her a lasting kiss, pulling back to let her ghost kisses all over his face. “We’re in this together. Always. Do not do anything without me. Someone’s got to be the one to talk you down. You understand?” her forehead presses up against his, and he gives her a pained smile. “Jamey, for better or worse.”
“For better or worse,” with a final chaste kiss he starts walking around the estate, letting Marshall know immediately that he was wandering around, before he goes and sits in the front drawing room. His eyes trained on the large window emotionless. Staring at nothing, and lost in all his thoughts.
This shouldn’t have happened. Not like this. Their family shouldn’t have had to change their life around for this woman. He picks up his phone and dials up his dad, “Son?” Steve’s stoic voice says, and with one word? James breaks down.
No words, just the sounds of his angry and scared tears. “I know James. I know.”
“Dad, if anything happens to them.”
“You keep your nose clean. Nothing is happening to your family. You’re going to be a grandpa,” James squeaks out a cry. Pressing his fingers on the bridge of his nose. “If you’re as good a grandpa as you are dad, you’ll be fine.”
“I don’t wanna be a grandpa.”
“Well,” Steve chuckles trying to lighten the mood. “I think you’re actually a Grumpy.”
James gives him a pitiful laugh, although it’s mostly tears. “I know this isn’t how you saw her life. But I didn’t sign up for wondering if you were dead for eighteen months. Life gives us curveballs, and it’s how we react to them that matters. Posie is scared, too, James. She needs you, and that need has to be extended to Jax and Abel.”
“I know.”
“Then get off the phone with me, and go to sleep with your wife. The one you wanted since you were three. You two have created a beautiful life. And she needs you, too. She’ll need you to remind her of how wonderful she is. I love you son.”
“Love you, too, dad.”
James settles back in the chair, his face blotchy and red from the tears he’d shed. And before he can get up to go to bed, a small little blonde boy wanders in. “Hey, Abes, you need to get back in the bed with Papa and Kitty.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“I should have told daddy that mama was there. I promised I wouldn’t,” he pouts at James, who holds his arms out wide for him. The same age as his baby boy, and had the world on his shoulders.
“It’s not your fault. Your mom shouldn’t have done what she did. And she definitely shouldn’t have asked you to keep her secrets. Adults, we’re dumb.”
“Not you,” Abel gives him a little giggle and leans over on his shoulder.
“Even me.”
“Why does she not like Posie? She’s nice and is giving me a sister. I like Posie. I wish mama was like that.”
“I don’t know buddy.”
Abel takes a deep breath, and looks up at James, “When I fall asleep, will you put me back in Papa and Kitty’s bed?” with a quick nod, Abel buries himself more James’ chest. “Thanks Grumpy.”
_______
“This is my fault,” Jax shakes his head, wondering when all this went so wrong. “I’ve done nothing but…”
“Shut up,” Posie grunts out sitting up on the bed, she turns and looks at Jax, grabbing at his hand to place on her stomach. “That is our daughter. She was made in pure love. This isn’t your fault. It’s Wendy’s.”
“But if…”
“No, Jackson. Do you feel her? She’s moving because she knows her daddy is holding her. This is all because of Wendy. Not you. I love you. I love Abel and I sure as hell love Daisy. This is sooner than we wanted, but I wanted her. I want babies with you. I want this life with you. Mom and Matt will deal with Wendy. Cases can be long. But this,” she wiggles his hand around on her stomach more. “She’s ours. Mine and yours. I don’t regret any of our time together. Every time I’ve been with you, I have loved you the whole time. From that first time in the tree house, to everywhere else. I love you. And I love us. And if I have to hear you blame yourself one more…”
“I get it Squeakers,” Jax chuckles, his eyes moving over her beautiful face. “I love you, too.”
Pushing her back into the bed, he rolls his body over hers, settling in between her thighs. His lips kiss down the expanse of her body before they start chasing Daisy’s movements. Smiling every time he can feel those sweet kicks. Posie’s fingers card through his long blonde hair. Cupping his chin, she moves his head up to look at his face.
“Things are going to change, but if I’m with you Jaxy. I’m okay.”
His shoulders push her thighs further apart, and he nuzzles at her covered mound. “Stop it.”
“You really want me to?” Posie shakes her head head no. “That’s what I thought. You know I won’t let anyone hurt you, right?”
“I know.”
“Good. Tonight. It’s just me and you?”
“Jaxy?” he raises his head up to look at her. “Keep it down. Otto and Ellie are sleeping next door.”
“Tell yourself that Squeakers.”
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