Alt: What if? - Kai raised his and Candice’s son
Ah, here we go again. We have yet another world in which Malachi Azure’s life could’ve gone differently. In most worlds, it’s not until at least senior year that Kai discovers that he has a son with Candice Clarke. However, what would have happened had he gotten home earlier one night, to have overheard one conversation in particular?
Part 1
June 2018
Kai walked down the hallway when he got home, unaware anything was going on until he heard voices coming from his father’s office. He didn’t plan on going inside, after all, he knew his dad didn’t like being interrupted, especially when it was with a blue royalty winner. But then he heard something he didn’t expect, his own name. They were talking about him.
“It was Malachi.”
“You’re going to have to prove it, Lily-Ann. I can’t just take your word for it.” Candice’s mother? Why was she talking about him, saying he did something. Something serious by the tone of the conversation.
“We’ll get the test, but it doesn’t change the fact that your son got my daughter pregnant.”
Kai couldn’t step away after hearing those words. There was no way to not interrupt his father in his conversation with Candice’s mother. “Candice is pregnant?”
“Mr. Azure, it’s ironic - I expected you to have trained your children better than to listen in on private conversations. But as your son is already here and you want confirmation, before the paternity test… Malachi, You did sleep with my daughter approximately 3 months ago, correct?”
“I… I did.” Kai admitted. He got Candice pregnant? He didn’t know if there were other people she had been with, but they had sex not that long ago… and they didn’t… f^^k… they were high, and he wasn’t thinking when they did it… He got Candice pregnant.
“As I said, that child is his.”
“Malachi… we will talk about this later. Go on to your room.”
He couldn’t just walk away and let his dad handle it. If he got her pregnant, it was his responsibility. He needed to know what was going on. “No, Dad.” Kai turned towards Lily-Ann, taking a deep breath. “What’s Candice planning on doing with the baby?”
“It’s being put up for adoption when it’s born.”
“If the baby’s mine, I want it.” Kai had no idea what to do, but he couldn’t imagine not being there, raising his son or daughter. It didn’t matter, he’d figure it out. He’d ask his mom what to do, how to take care of a baby, how to be a good parent. He’d find a way to make it all work. He’d be the best father he could possibly be.
“Malachi.” Kai watched as his father gave Lily-Ann a look, indicating that he needed just a moment. His dad then took him by the shoulder and walked him out of the office.
For once, Kai didn’t give his dad a chance to say anything else. “Dad, I want to. I didn’t mean to get Candice pregnant, but I did. She might not want the baby, but I do.”
Kai watched his dad’s features soften slightly before he let out a deep exhale. “Alright, son. I’ll come up in a little while, and we’ll talk. For now, head to your room. I have more to discuss with her mother.”
September 2018
“He’s so… little.” Kai had to remind himself to breathe as he held his son for the first time. Kai was 17 years old. He was basically still a kid himself. Hell, even the time he had spent in the waiting room while doctors checked on the baby had been filled by doing his 11th grade math homework. Was he ready to be a parent? Not at all, but this kid deserved having one parent there for him from day one. Candice still didn’t want him, so Kai would be everything for him. There was no other option.
“Hi Oliver. I’m your dad.” He was just a few days old, finally strong enough to be held. It would still be a while until he was able to come home. He was still too small, too premature. But it wouldn’t be that way forever, and Kai would be there for him every day.
December 25th, 2018
It was strange having a baby in the house. Although it had only been a few years since Ria was born, everyone could seem to agree that it was different with Oliver. It had only been a few weeks since he left the nicu, but there still wasn’t a new normal. Kai’s mom absolutely adored her little grandson. His dad seemed distant yet more understanding, softer in a way. For Kai, his world was now centered around this tiny little baby, his son. He didn’t have the answers for how the future would go. The only thing he knew at that point, was that he wanted to make sure Oliver’s first Christmas was a good one.
@benitz786 - Candice and her mom mentioned