auggiedoggie-matthews

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

What's one thing you want to cross off your bucket list before the end of the year?

Whatever Ava says we need to do before the new year. 

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

[Auggie nodded. He’d always done whatever made Ava happy -- giving up stuffed animals, begging for allowance, hiding her from her parents when they fought... And this time, it was something they’d done together. He could pretend, for just a little longer. The questions about prom and school and baby names and stuff, that could definitely come later.] “I get to come up with names, though, too, right? I promise that’s my only question and then we can go back to being just us. Or we could pretend we’re naming like a doll or something and talk about it now, if that’s fun for you.”

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[Having verbal confirmation that they’d tell Cory and Topanga was all Ava needed to let out a huge sigh she hadn’t known she’d been holding. It still wouldn’t be fun, she was sure, but it’d be better than telling her parents, and Auggie’s parents were more likely to be on their side once they got on board, right? They were cray, but still the nicest people she’d ever known.] “Can we just…have one last normal day without telling them?” [Ava suggested, sensing his hesitation and holding him tighter.] “Just one day left of being just Auggie and Ava. You know, before I start bombarding you with baby name ideas.”

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

You didn’t even give me a chance to ask! 

Get your party on, New York!

If you’re over the age of 21 (sorry, young Matthews and friends) and I’ve actually spoken to you in the last two years, you’re invited to a party of sorority proportions tomorrow night, Thursday, in my apartment. Alcohol and food will be provided, but of course feel free to bring more of your own. Consider tonight a test run - if it goes well, I very well may start hosting more of these soirees, and if not, at least I know I don’t have a knack for hosting. See you all then.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

[When Ava suggested they tell his parents first, it finally started to hit Auggie what a mess they'd gotten themselves into. He had to imagine Cory and Topanga, and though he doubted the scene would be as horrible as whatever Ava was expecting with her parents, he knew his dad's tendency to overreact, and his mom's penchant for pointing out all the problems in a situation. After all, his mom had stopped him from getting 30 million dollars from Prince Baiji all those years ago, and he'd never forgotten it.] "Yeah... yeah, we can tell them first." [Auggie swallowed the lump in his throat, though; he had a feeling they'd stamp out the joy he'd been feeling about starting forever with Ava so young.] "No matter what my parents say, you know how much my mom likes to argue with yours, so it'll be fine. She'll keep us safe."

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[Ava pouted but snuggled into his side further - telling her mom together was the best she could’ve hoped for, anyway.] “She’s going to be mad,” [Ava warned. She hadn’t really thought much about how Topy was going to take the news; all she could picture was her own mother, who she always wanted to impress but never felt like she liked her very much.] “She’s probably going to tell us to get rid of it. And when we say no, I don’t know what she’s going to do.” [That last bit came out mumbled, as Ava’s throat started hurting from the crying she’d done earlier.] “Should we tell your parents first? That way if my mom gets too mad, good old Topy can Mama Bear protect us.”

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

[Maybe it was the fact that Ava wasn’t really showing yet, and the baby was just this wonderful idea in his head instead of an actuality. Or maybe Auggie really did just believe that as long as he was with Ava, nothing could ever be truly wrong, even if it was hard. Either way, he slipped surprisingly easily into his normal demeanor around Ava, adrenaline and love keeping him from really feeling as scared as he should be. Right now, without anyone making them feel like failures or telling them they were throwing their lives away, he could just enjoy it, before their parents got involved. He even chuckled at Ava’s comment, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and shaking his head.] “Not for you, but we can definitely tell her together. We should tell her together -- this is our family, I’d never make you do it alone.” 

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[Ava blinked at Auggie’s smile - the sight of it was almost always one of her favorite sights, but it seemed so out of place. She was telling him that their life plan was ruined, but he looked at her with the same love in his eyes he always did and it made her more sure that she was making the right choice, keeping their baby. She laughed a little at the idea of being the first at something, finally breaking the tension in her shoulders and leaning against Auggie’s side, wrapping an arm around his back and letting out a small sigh.] “We can do anything,” [she repeated, for a moment truly believing it.] “Does that mean you’ll tell my mom for me? Because I am NOT looking forward to that woman’s reaction.”

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

[Ava wanted to hear that she was right all the time, but today it was different. It was a desperate plea, almost begging instead of her usual bossiness -- but Auggie’s face split into a grin. Maybe happiness was an emotion that seemed out of place right now when their whole world should be crashing down around them, but this was him and Ava. They were going to have a family together someday, and he didn’t want the baby that could have been hanging over them. He’d been worried that Ava would just brush this away and want to have her body prom ready or something, but hearing her say she wanted it? That she really wanted something that would tie them together forever? It made him fall even more in love with her.] “My mom and dad would never keep me away from you and our baby, Ava! It might be hard, but we can make it work. Plus, we’ll be the first parents in our grade, we love being the first and the best at stuff.” [Maybe Auggie had inherited some of Riley’s optimism after all, because all of the things that could go wrong right now were at the back of his mind, and he was focused on the good instead.] “We can do it, we can do anything.”

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[She shouldn’t have been surprised that he deflected the decision to her - Ava usually took the reins on most decisions anyway, and it was her body, after all, but she hadn’t actually said her plans outloud just yet.] “I….I want to keep it,’ [Ava confessed, her wobbly voice strengthening with conviction as she kept talking.] “ I don’t want your parents saying I’m a bad influence or making you stay away from me because of this, but I can’t say goodbye to our baby. I just pictured telling my mom and having her ‘take care of it’ and it broke my heart, Augs. A baby that’s half you and half me is one hundred percent perfect, even if she did show up at the wrong time. We can make it work, right? We always make things work, right? Tell me I’m right.”

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

[Auggie felt like a fist was clenching around his heart when all Ava squeaked in reply was I’m sorry, and he quickly put his arms around her.] “Don’t be sorry! We’re having a baby. It’s -- I mean, we’re super young, but...” [Auggie kissed the top of her head, not sure the right thing to say. What if she didn’t want to keep it? What if he started planning a family and that was the wrong thing to do? Rubbing soothing circles around her back and trying not to panic, Auggie stopped his babbling and instead asked her the most important question of all.] “What do you -- what do you want to do about it? Whatever you want to do, I’m here with you, one hundred percent.” 

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[She watched his face fall and she couldn’t blame him. They knew they weren’t ready - they were still kids themselves! - but regardless, it was real and happening. She bit her lip at his question and nodded, the truth of it sounding much more confusing on his lips.] “I’m sorry.” [She squeaked, burying her head in his shoulder and letting some tears out.]

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

[Auggie’s whole face lit up at the sight of Ava, just like it always did. Even the fact that she was clearly sad about something when she crawled through the window couldn’t stop him from being happy to see her; unless she was here to tell him that she was dying, they’d always been able to fix everything together. And even if she was dying, his mom always told him that she was her little genius. Maybe Auggie could find a miracle cure! He’d do anything for Ava, and she knew it, too, which was why it was so weird to see her seeming so nervous. He wrapped his arm around her; it was the best he could do in the way of physical affection, with how she had curled in on herself, hugging her own knees.]

“That doesn’t sound so bad!” [Auggie started to say the words, but they were cut off when she said what kind of test it had been, and his hopeful sentence was replaced with one single flat word.] “Oh.” [Auggie realized how unenthusiastic his reply was -- of course it was, they were still in high school! -- but he had to be sure he’d heard her right, and it would buy him time to think of what he should say next.] “So... so we’re pregnant?” 

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[Ava had started walking to the Matthew’s front door but nerves got the better of her before barging into the place that had basically become her home. She knew they’d get better as soon as she talked to Auggie - they always did - but the worry about what his face would look like when she told him the news kept her moving slowly. Finally, she turned away from the door altogether and decided on taking the long way, up the fire escape and to the bay window from the outside, taking the time all the while to decide how exactly she’d break the news. There had to be some wording, some phrasing, that would make it sound better. Seeing his back through the window shook her with anticipation and fear and she knocked on the window before she could stop herself again, crawling in once it was opened and hugging her knees to her chest. Auggie looked beautiful today. He always did.]

 “Hi, baby. Thanks for meeting me here today. Umm…there’s no easy way to say it so I’m just going to say it.” [She looked towards the door, as if she could see if Topanga or Cory were on the other side, before looking back at Auggie and looking him in the eyes when she told him. She owed him that.] “I took a test and I passed, but it wasn’t like a school test or anything cool like that. It was a pregnancy test.” [Her eyes started bubbling up with tears that she tried to choke down as her words cut off in her throat and she waited for recognition, for a reply, for anything.]

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Babies Makin' Babies → Augva

[Auggie sat in the bay window, waiting for Ava, just like he’d promised. With the way Ava had talked to him earlier, he’d been worried that the worst was happening, but once she had promised him that they weren’t breaking up, nothing had seemed quite so scary to Auggie anymore. Not he was just picking at the fringe on one of Riley’s pillows, waiting for Ava to make what he was sure would be a dramatic entrance. He should have been trying to figure out what the big deal was, but after more than a decade, Auggie knew that Ava sometimes made a whole ordeal out of things that just didn’t matter that much, and he was waiting to see what today would bring. No matter what she had to say, he was always happy to see her -- his best friend and the love of his life.]

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

My mom says that high school’s actually supposed to be the worst time of your life and it only gets better when you’re older, so I think we’re almost in the clear. I don’t either, how could we not be the perfect genetic combo?

@auggie♥

They do say life, it just gets harder, but we got through that so we could get through anything, right? Right. And I’ll help you through everything too because that’s what people do when they’re in love. Oh. I don’t think that’ll be a problem, Augs. 

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Six was a tough year, although nothing tops second grade. That was when I was really, really sure we were forever, tough. If I could help you through your parents I could help you through anything. Brangelina... Maybe with less adopted children, though. Adopting babies is a great cause and all but I want all my kids to be just as beautiful as you. 

@auggie♥

I really am, but that was never a question. Or, at least, that stopped being a question after I was six, anyway. Maybe we’ll get even hotter when we’re older. If that’s possible. We’ll be like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, before they peaked.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Because if you can still be sweet to me even after that, then I know you really are going to love me for the rest of my life. I’m glad I grew up to be hot, too. We’ll never have to look back and burn our awkward teenage photos like most couples have to.

@auggie♥

Why do you have to remind me about sad sad things when I’m trying to be sweet with you?! You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, too. Aside from growing up to be hot, but that wouldn’t have tasted nearly as sweet without you by my side.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Even when I let our imaginary dog go off to doggie heaven before you got home to say goodbye? Because I really thought you were about to break up with me that time. But of course I know that, Ava. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

@auggie♥

Even then. Especially then. You know I love you all the time, right? Even when you’re talking too much or not enough or whatever else. Idk it’s just important to me that you know that.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Even when the best reply I have is just to smile because I got lucky enough to find the perfect girl when I was five?  I know you like me to spit it out but those are the  only words I have sometimes. 

@auggie♥

I like your kind of everything.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

That’s okay, Ava. I like your kind of crazy, I always have.

@auggie♥

Don’t drive yourself crazy with it, babe. BeLIEVE me, they’ll be plenty to be crazy about after.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Okay, okay -- but I can’t stop guessing for real, I’ll just stop guessing out loud. Maybe I’ll have a secret list in my pocket and I can prove I guessed right afterwards, or hide it forever if I’m wrong.

@auggie♥

I’M NOT MOVING. I promise it’s nothing you’ll expect but it’ll - you’ll see. Just stop guessing. Sorry. I love you. I’ll be there.

[auggiedoggie-matthews]

Bad freakout, right? Your face is totally telling me bad freakout. ARE YOU MOVING? Mom and dad said her parents tried to make her move away right before her senior year too. 

I love you, okay? I’ll be there waiting.

@auggie♥

It is. I’ve got other things to freak out about. And so will you.

Wait for me. I might be kind of late anyway. I need to check things and then…yeah. I’ll meet you later, babe.