This is a sequel to my other story Living the Facts of Life. It is a little longer than the original, but I hope people will still enjoy it. I wrote this story in 2001, so it's another oldie, but I am working to edit it and get it uploaded quickly. Thanks for reading!

She couldn't believe she was going to do it. As Jo Polniaczek drove down the highway, the sound of her four children sleeping heavily echoing in her ears, her mind couldn't help but wander to the extraordinary events that had just happened. Less than two weeks ago she was a single mother, laid off from her job, pregnant, alone. She hadn't known where to turn or what to do. Now, things were coming together. She had her friends back. She had not even realized how much she had missed them. Her life would be better now. She knew it would be. It had to be.

She and the girls were going to move in with Blair. Was that really a good idea? After all that had happened, Jo wasn't so sure. Still, she felt she had to give it a chance. Blair seemed so anxious to become a part of their lives again. Jo trusted her, even after all that had happened. She knew how hard it had been for Blair to tell the truth. She respected her friend's bravery and honesty. Their friendship was healing. It had to work.

As she turned the corner, her apartment building came into view. There was Rick's car, waiting for her. She had expected as much. When she called him from Peekskill, explaining her plan to move there, he had remained calm. He didn't say much, but Jo knew what he was thinking… she had betrayed him, hurt him. Jo did feel guilty for all that had happened. She hadn't believed him about the accident, and although she never admitted it to him before the day Blair confessed the truth, Rick knew. It tore their marriage apart. Rick had every right to feel angry. She really didn't know what she would say to him. She prayed that something would come to her.

Jo quickly pulled her car into the space next to her ex-husband. She turned off the car and stepped out. Rick got out of his car at the same time and walked over to her. "I was worried," he said. "I thought you'd be back an hour ago." He looked frazzled, but let out a sigh of relief. "God Jo, I was about to call the police."

Jo looked at him and could see he was genuinely worried about them. "I'm sorry," she said. "We got a late start and I didn't know you would be waiting." She actually hadn't realized how late it was, almost 10:00pm.

Rick relaxed a little and gave her a slight smile. "Come on," he said, "let's get the girls inside."

Jo woke up her three oldest daughters. Jordyn and Ricki both yawned, but walked inside. Charli was instantly awake and chatting with her daddy about the trip. "It was really fun," she said. "And guess what , Daddy? We get to move there!"

Rick looked at his little girl. "I know sweetie," he said softly. "Mommy told me. Now, you better get inside and go back to sleep." He kissed her on the forehead, and Charli turned to follow her sisters inside.

Jo reached to pick Katie up from her car seat. "I'll get her," Rick offered. "You shouldn't be lifting her if you don't have to."

Jo looked at her ex, puzzled by his remark. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Rick looked at her, his eyes focused on her stomach, "The baby," he said. "If we are going to have another baby, you're going to have to take it easy."

Jo watched in amazement as Rick carried their little girl into the apartment. Was this the same Rick Bonner? The same man who just weeks ago had wanted nothing to do with the child she carried…the man who had talked her into an abortion. She didn't know what to think. Had Rick really changed? Maybe Blair's confession had changed him as well. Jo hoped for the best, but in the back of her mind, an inner-voice was telling her something wasn't right. She walked inside and closed the door behind her.

The girls were all sound asleep. Jo was sitting at the table with Rick. They looked at each other, but neither of them spoke a word. Suddenly their silence was interrupted by the blaring sound of the ringing telephone. Jo was shocked by the noise, nearly jumping. She reached up and answered, "Hello?" Rick wondered who would be calling at such an hour, but his question was quickly answered as he heard Jo's conversation with the caller. "Blair," she said, "I know I said I'd call when we got here. I am sorry. I forgot. We've only been home a few minutes anyway." Jo looked at her watch and saw that they had actually been home for almost an hour. "Yeah, the trip was fine. Okay, I'll see you then, Bye." Jo hung up the phone.

Rick looked up at her. "Blair huh?" he asked.

Jo cleared her throat a little. "She wanted to know if we made it home okay. I told her I'd call. I forgot." She looked up at him. "I guess I've worried a couple of people tonight. I don't know where my mind is." She laughed a little, trying to lighten the mood.

Rick almost smiled. "It was nice of her to call and check," he replied. "You look tired. We can talk about things later. Get some sleep. I'll be back in the morning." He reached out and touched her hand. Then he stood up and left. Jo sat alone in the kitchen wondering why he seemed so different now.

As she made her way to her bedroom, Jo stopped to check on her daughters. Each one, snug in bed. Ricki was snoring slightly, a trait she inherited from her father. Jo smiled at her girls and went to bed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

The next morning seemed to come too soon. Jo felt Katie tapping on her arm. "Mommy," her daughter whispered. "Wake up. I want cereal."

Jo opened her eyes. She looked up at her youngest daughter. "I'm awake," she sighed, as she got out of bed. She walked into the kitchen. Ricki and Jordyn were up watching TV, but Charli was still sleeping. Jo reached for the cereal box. She poured a bowl for Katie. Suddenly a wave of nausea hit her. She took a deep breath, hoping it would go away.

"Mommy," Katie whined, "I need milk."

Jo looked at Ricki, "Please put some milk on her cereal," she asked. Then she ran to the bathroom.

Ricki poured milk on Katie's cereal and sat her in her booster chair. Then she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door to find her father standing there. "Dad," she said as she hugged him. "What are you doing here?"

Rick smiled at her. "Can't a man visit his family without getting the third degree?" he asked. "Where's your mom?"

Ricki answered him, "She's in the bathroom. I think she's sick or something."

Rick knew it was morning sickness. He had watched Jo suffer with it four times before. He also knew the girls had no idea about the baby. "Well," he said. "Then you girls should just do your best to help her out until she feels better."

Jo walked slowly out of the bathroom. Her skin was damp and her face was pale. Rick could tell she was miserable and all of the sudden he felt tremendous guilt for not being there to help her through this. When she'd first told him she was pregnant again, all he could think about was how they could get out of the mess they were in. He hadn't let himself think about the fact that his ex wife was dealing with the actual pregnancy all by herself. When she'd told him on the phone that she wanted to keep the baby, it hadn't surprised him but it worried him. There was no way they could afford another child, but he knew he had been selfish to think an abortion would be a better choice. Listening to her compare this baby to their other four children made him realize he was going to be a father again whether he was ready or not, and he'd better get used to the idea. He walked over to her. "Are you gonna be okay?" he whispered. Jo nodded her head slightly. "Come on," Rick said, "You just need to go back to bed." He put his arm around her shoulders and attempted to guide her back to the bedroom.

"No," Jo replied. "I'll be okay. I have so much packing to do." Jo sat down on the couch and took a deep breath. "Can you just bring me the crackers from the kitchen…that should help."

Rick went into the kitchen, grabbing the crackers from their usual spot on top of the refrigerator and grabbing a can of gingerale. Then he brought them in to his ex wife, "Here…" he handed her a cracker and she took a bite. Then he opened the soda and handed it to her, "Sip this…slowly though…not too fast."

Jo sipped the gingerale, "Thanks," she whispered. "I think I'll be all right. I'm feeling better."

"You'd feel a lot better if you'd go back to bed for a little bit," Rick suggested again. "I can watch the girls. Jo…I really am sorry I haven't been here to help more. I guess, since we weren't planning to have the baby…I didn't stop to think that you'd still be going through all the pregnancy symptoms. It was stupid of me, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you to go through all of this by yourself."

"It wasn't your fault. I didn't tell you I was sick. I'm sorry that I changed my mind about keeping the baby without talking to you," Jo admitted. "But I just couldn't do it…"

"I know," Rick sighed. "I shouldn't have pressured you to do it."

"You didn't," Jo insisted. "I know that's what you wanted me to do…and I thought it was the right thing too until it came down to actually having to do it."

Rick nodded, "I don't blame you for not being able to do it. It'll be hard, but things will work out." He winked at her, "I hope she's as feisty as her sisters…and her mommy."

Jo laughed, "It might be a boy," she suggested.

"Yeah right," he joked. "I'm pretty sure we only know how to make girls." He watched as she took another sip of the soda and put her hand to her stomach. "Are you feeling sick again? Come on, let's get you back in bed, just for a while so you can feel better."

"I'm sure I'll be fine in a minute," Jo closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, trying to settle her stomach. "It comes and goes, but I have a lot of packing that has to get finished today. I can't go back to bed."

Rick looked at her. He knew better than to argue. "Okay," he said. "But if you're not going to rest, you're at least going to let me help you with the work."

Jo hated to admit she needed the help, but she was so tired and she felt horrible. She was still suspicious of Rick's unusual behavior. "Okay," she said. "You can help.