'Mark,' screamed the young woman in obvious pain, 'I'm gona kill you for putting me through this.'

Frustrated, frightened and feeling foolish, the fifteen year-old cringed. Last year, he'd been amazed to have an older girlfriend. Shari exclaimed how mature he seemed for someone in the class below her at school. With the world literarily exploding around them, quiet, studious Mark Venture appeared level headed and responsible beyond his years.

Living in a newly created underground city, Shari found the sudden change in her environment emotionally destabilizing. A planet bomb wiped out her home, both parents suffering from the radiation sickness after the attack. Her father succumbed to the disease quickly while her mother still lived with the debilitating effects. Everyone knew radiation be a death sentence, time the only variance.

Shari craved the steadiness and quiet strength she saw in the young man to make up for her shattered home life. It didn't take long before they consummated their relationship. It happened because of the uncertainty, the death and destruction surrounding them. Everyone seemed to be living for today, thinking there might not be a tomorrow. After all, they were only teenagers, neither mature enough to consider the ultimate ramifications of their hormonal driven and irresponsible behaviour.

'Now, Shari,' Joanne, the midwife consoled, sparing a look at the terrified boy in the room. In her opinion, he'd stood up well to the events of the last four hours. Even though her patient initially refused to have the young man around, he'd insisted with a stoic, calm determination. 'I don't think your boyfriend did this alone. It takes two to create a child,' she softly chastised the sixteen year old girl.

'He's not my boyfriend,' screeched young woman, sending Mark a furious look. They'd seen little of each other over the past few months. In that time her resentment grew. 'I wish I'd never met him. This is all your fault!'

'Breathe, Shari,' offered the midwife in distraction, 'you're crowning. Your little boy will be here soon.'

'It's not mine,' she panted, working though a contraction, 'I don't want anything to do with this thing.'

'My parents are going to help me,' Mark stated in a determined tone, 'to bring Jordi up. They always wanted more children and believe he shouldn't be affected by the way he came into this world. They want him to have as normal a life as possible.'

'Are they happy about this?' Indicating the infant about to be born, Joanna spared the boy a quizzical glance.

'Not at first,' embarrassed, red patches appeared on Mark's cheeks. 'Shari didn't tell anyone until five months ago. My mother tried to talk to Mrs Keynan about custody arrangements. Jordi will be my responsibility after his birth.'

'You're both very young,' hinted Joanna. 'OK Shari, it's nearly time to push. I'm going to turn this little man so he'll slip out with the next contraction.'

Fiddling with the head of the baby, Mark looked horrified as the midwife manipulated his son's shoulders. Feeling queasy, he couldn't watch the actual birth. Hearing a slithering sound, followed by a wail, he knew his son had finally entered the world.

'Come and cut the cord,' Joanna offered, indicating he pick up the scissors on the tray at her side.

Swallowing hard, Mark found his feet moving towards the older woman. Talking to him gently, she instructed he make a snip between the clamps she place around the umbilical cord. Joanna's calming tone continued to explain as she checked the child over. Wrapping his son in a blanket, she handed him off to his father. Returning to Shari and the rest of her job, Mark's word narrowed to the tiny life in his arms.

'Jordan Mark Venture,' chocolate brown eyes turned far too serious for a boy taking on the responsibility of a man. At fifteen, he might have attained his adult height, filling out that body would take another few years.

'Shari,' Joanna asked a short while later, 'would you like to hold your son?'

'I want to go home,' the petulant young woman announced. 'The doctor said if everything went well I'd be home a few hours after getting rid of that thing.'

'Shari's mother,' Mark turned to the midwife, 'is in the final stages of radiation sickness.'

'Do you have any other family?' Joanna questioned, wondering why this hadn't come to light before. 'Surely, given your age, you've seen a councillor and discussed your options?'

'Oh, right,' Shari shot back, the anger in her voice palatable, 'how do I look after myself once my mother dies? I have no family left, no job and a kid. It's not like he can help me. Besides, Mr and Mrs Venture want this kid, so let them have it.'

Staring at the young woman, the hurt shone through Mark's expression. He'd learnt a lot about love in a very short space of time. Shari never cared for him, he understood that now. She'd been clutching at straws, desperately unhappy and looking for someone to fill her emotional void.

His mother warned him, after meeting his girlfriend for the first time. When it ended, Maria Venture silently applauded, hoping her son learnt his lesson. Months later, Mark hesitantly told her of the unplanned pregnancy he'd only just discovered. With his parents support, he realised his mistakes and how they'd change his life forever.

Initially, the thought of a child thrilled Shari, until Mrs Venture enrolled both of them into a class for teen parents. The reality of bringing up a child soon palled when the lifelike "trial" infant's needs weren't met. She's discovered termination at her stage impossible.

'What,' Joanna asked, 'are you going to do?'

The midwife hadn't met the young couple before today. Saddened by the story, she wondered how a teenaged, single father would cope. While his parents might be supportive, he'd have a long and difficult road ahead.

'Mum and dad insist I go back to school,' Mark couldn't take his eyes off the bundle in his arms. Suddenly he realised what love entailed. 'I'm going to study from home for the rest of the year, until Jordi's old enough. Then mum will look after him in the day. Can I take him to my parents, there in the waiting room?'

'I'll call one of the nurses to take you,' Joanna offered. Watching the way he held the baby, she appreciated his natural instincts, 'as soon as the doctor looks him over. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.'

'When can I go home,' Shari demanded, forcing the midwife's attention back her patient.

Shaking her head, Joanna had to wonder at the self-serving attitude of the young woman. Maybe placing this child with his extremely young father would be the best choice in this case. At least the young man seemed to have good family support and values.

'Let me hold him,' Maria gushed as Mark entered the waiting room. Looking down at the angelic face, she asked, 'have you given him a name?'

'Jordan,' Mark kept his expression neutral, 'after dad. Jordan Mark Venture but I like Jordi for short.'

He understood his life just changed forever. Responsible for the health and wellbeing of his son, the earth shifted on its axis for the young man. Fear of the unknown mixed with unconditional love of a parent for their offspring. Conflicted and confused, Mark Venture knew he'd do everything in his power to give his son a normal life.

'Well, Jordi,' Maria cooed, 'I think it's time your daddy gave you your first feed. It's going to be a learning experience for both of you.'

'The doctor said,' Mark looked embarrassed, 'I'll have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days. They want to make sure I can cope with a baby.'

'What happened to Shari?' Jordan Venture requested of his son.

'She discharged herself against medical advice,' he stated sadly.

'She didn't hold Jordan?' Maria asked hoping Shari would change her mind and accept her child. Her only answer a shake of her son's head. Sighing, she knew they'd get through this.

Three days later, Mark learnt of Shari's death from a postpartum haemorrhage. It changed everything. Maria Venture insisted they move, to give the family a fresh start. Jordan's position as a construction engineer allowed them to be rapidly transferred to an underground city currently being built.

Commencing their new life, Mark returned to school, telling his new friends about the recent birth of his little brother, Jordi. They wondered at the bond between brothers, never really questioning it because Mark Venture's quiet strength and steady personality in sighted trust and friendship. No one would consider the story a white lie designed to protect the lives of Mark and Jordi from the harsh reality of innuendo and gossip.