Claudia and Sonny did try for another baby at first, until the Ric/dvd incident. Sonny never walked in on Claudia making an appointment with an abortion clinic, instead she hid it for awhile, at least she thought she did.
Kristina hadn't been here for a couple of days now, but she knew something was going on and she was sick of everyone telling her she wouldn't understand. But Kristina wasn't ready to find Claudia puking in the downstairs bathroom, "are you okay?" Claudia jumped a bit and turned around, "yeah, just food poison. What are you doing here, shouldn't you be in school?" Kristina fallowed her step mother into the living room, "are you sure your okay, should I call dad?" Claudia with a hand on her stomach and the other on her forehead, "No, I'm fine." Kristina wasn't to sure but something seemed wrong with Claudia too, "umm, okay I wont tell dad if you don't tell mom I skipped school." Claudia looked at her, "fine. What are you doing here anyway?" Kristina shrugged her shoulders, "just came by to see dad. You know mom would never let me over here, so I come when I can." It was time for school to be letting out now and Kristina knew she had to get home soon, "okay, he's the other thing. Usually I take the extra car mom has for Mercedes, but I didn't today." Claudia chewed on another carrot, "this your way of asking for a ride home?" Kristina made the most innocent face she could, "please. Mom's going to kill me if I'm not home when Molly gets there." Claudia grabbed her water bottle, "fine let me just get my bag." Kristina let out a big sigh of relief and went to the front door to wait.
Friday, two weeks later and Kristina walked in on Claudia puking her guts out again. Kristina walked to the bathroom she's gotten to know so well, and just started to rub Claudia's back without saying anything at first, "Claudia maybe you should go get checked…" Claudia shook her head and continued, "I'm just worried, I mean I've only been coming over here like everyday now, but I think your okay at least. And you seem sick so you should…" Claudia sat up and rinsed her mouth out, "I'm fine Kristina." Kristina held up her hands in defeat, "fine. What's for lunch, because I'm starving." Claudia walked out the bathroom and laid out on the sofa, " you know where they have lunch at this time, school - where you should be. How long do you think you can keep this up before someone finds out your skipping?" Kristina shrugged her shoulders and then made a pouty face, "please." Claudia sat up and threw a pillow at her, "oh no, you wont get me with that today!" Kristina snuggled up to her step mother, "Please! Please, Please!" Claudia shook her head like she wasn't going to give in. Kristina was practically sitting on her lap, "please, you make the best lunch. Please, mom." That threw Claudia off, wow she's never used the mom card, "Kristina, I don't think your mom would…" Kristina, now completely on Claudia's lap now, continued before Claudia could, "Please! You've been more of a mother to me these past few days than she has, and besides your married to my dad so technically…" Claudia sighed, "fine. But only because your making me lose the feeling in my legs. And you have to help." Kristina hoped up, "Yes!"
Twenty minutes after they finished making alfrado and were just sitting down to eat it when someone interrupted, "Claudia?" Claudia tried to get up and meet him in the living room, but he beat her to the dinning room door, "Kristina? What are you doing here, why aren't you in school?" Kristina looked up from her pasta, "hey dad. Umm…" Sonny looked between both his daughter and wife, "What are you doing here?" Just as Claudia stepped forward to try and talk with Sonny she inhaled his cologne and gagged running for the bathroom. Sonny looked in her direction but turned back to his daughter, "does your mother know you're here?" Kristina shook her head she couldn't believe her dad would rather go on with this lecture rather than see what's wrong with his wife. Kristina waited for like a second and when she realized he wanted an answer and obviously wasn't going to go after her step mother she looked at him with a new look of disgust and went after Claudia. Kristina was now sitting on the bathroom floor with her step mother and rubbing her back, "I wish you'd go see someone already. " Claudia shook her head no, and Kristina continued, "I'm just saying your either really sick or pregnant." Claudia was praying her step daughter didn't put it together, but she heard her gasp behind her, "OH my God, your pregnant!" Claudia swung around and shh-ed her, "Kristina, I'm fine. I promise." Kristina got up and started pacing, "yeah your fine. All you keep saying is your fine, that's because your pregnant. Where you going to let me keep worrying?" Claudia rinsed out her mouth and sat on the toilet seat, "No. I just…I haven't told anyone yet. I kind of haven't accepted it myself yet." Kristina smiled and Claudia knew that meant the wheels in her head where turning, "okay, what do you want now? A car? Want me to get Sonny to let you spend more time over here?" Kristina smiled again, "yeah those could work for now." Claudia couldn't do anything but laugh at her little manipulative step daughter, "fine. I'll talk to Sonny about it. But right now, you better get back to school. Have Milo drop you off." Kristina hugged her, "thank you, mom." Claudia, "yeah, yeah. Now go before you get into more trouble."
Claudia went to clear the dishes that where still in the dinning room and bumped into Sonny on her way to the kitchen. Sonny, "Why was Kristina here?" Claudia continued doing what she was doing, "She just want's someone who will listen to her." Sonny laughed, "and let me guess that's you?" Claudia put the dish towel down and started to walk away, but Sonny fallowed, "What, am I suppose to believe you care about my kids?" Claudia smiled, "they are my step kids too. And hey if either of their parents actually paid attention then you guys would know what's going on in your kids lives." Sonny poured himself a drink, "oh. And you know what's going on in my kids lives?" Claudia sat on the sofa and started flipping through a magazine, "yes, Sonny I actually do. Both Kristina and Michael want a car, but that's expected at this age. Umm…lets see, Michael feels he has to make up for what he's missed, and Kristina would like you and Alexis to stop treating her like she's just your 'little girl'. And there is something going on with her and this Kifer kid, I don't know what yet. That secret still has a pretty big wall up around it." Sonny just sat there kind of in awe, his children haven't known his wife long and have already shared so much with her. Claudia looked up from her magazine, "anything else you'd like to know about your children? Or would you like to switch to me? What to accuse me of something today because I don't think you have yet." Sonny was still in shook that Claudia knew more about his children than he did at the moment. Claudia could tell this and so that's how she left him.
Kristina walked in later that afternoon as if nothing happened, but her sister greeted her, "Your in trouble." Kristina looked at her like she was crazy and just kept on going towards her room, but was stopped in her tracks before she made it all the way through the living room. Alexis, "what to tell me why I just got off the phone with your school?" Silence. "Okay, how about all the classes you've been skipping for the past month!" Silence again, Kristina couldn't talk with her mother because one of two things would happen: She'd blame everything on her new boyfriend she knew nothing about, or she'd get all Lawry on her. Alexis, "Well?" More silence, "Kristina what kind of example are you setting for Molly? Why are you skipping? You're still getting good grades, just not showing up to class, wha…." Before Alexis could finish Kristina stormed off to her room and slammed the door shut. Alexis just starred in her daughter's direction and was speechless; she's never done anything like this. Guess her life couldn't be perfect for long. Alexis went and cooked dinner, to give Kristina time to cool off and when it was done she sent Molly to get her. Molly, "Krissy? Dinner's done. Mom sent me to…" Molly pushed open her door and found it empty, oh boy, "Mom!"
Kristina didn't know where she was going to go, or why she left. But she just couldn't take any more of her mother. Kristina rang the door bell, please don't be home, please don't be home. Milo answered the door, "Hey Miss. K. Your father's not here, but is there something I can help with?" Kristina, keep it together, "no. umm…is mom here?" Milo looked a little confused, "ummm…" Kristina realized what she just said, "I mean is Claudia here?" Milo stepped aside and grabbed her bags for her, "yeah, she's on the phone in the living room." Kristina didn't wait for him to finish, she just started walking towards the doors, "thanks." She didn't knock just walked right in and caught Claudia on the phone with what sounded like a doctor, so she quietly sat down behind her step mother and waited. Claudia didn't hear the door open let alone someone come in, "I know I should have had an ultra sound sooner, can you fit me in tomorrow afternoon or not? Because you're the best, Kelly. Thank You, and I don't have to explain to you again about keeping this secret. Good, see you tomorrow at four." Claudia turned around and jumped at the site of someone in the room, "Shit, you scared me!" Kristina just smiled and laughed at her. Claudia placed her phone on the table and sat next to her, "It's late Krissy, what are you doing here?" Kristina slipped out of her shoes so she could curl up to Claudia, "do I have to have a reason to want to see my other mom?" Claudia looked down at her, she looked so small when she curled up in a ball like that, "fine. What movie do you want to watch?"
It's been over an hour since Kristina arrived and fallen asleep, so Claudia helped lead her upstairs to her room. Just as she was coming back downstairs to clean Sonny came through the doors, "Wow, it's takes you this long to drag you away from your whore?" Sonny sighed and went towards the bar, "Stop calling her that." Claudia shook her head as she folded up the blanket, "so we aren't even denying it any more?" Sonny sat in his char with his drink, "unlike you, I'm not one for having affairs." Claudia looked at him with fire, "were back on this! It was before…" Sonny stood to face her, "before what? Before you realized he was my brother, oh wait no. How about before others knew, yeah that might work." These freaking hormones had her on the brink of tears about everything, and there was no stopping them once they started. Sonny stared at her, "are those tears! I beat no one knew that was possible from a Zachariah!" Claudia, "know what, screw you Sonny! I didn't…" Sonny, "no thanks we made that mistake already." Claudia shook her head, "yeah. We defiantly did make a mistake." Sonny was about to respond but his phone that he placed on his desk was ringing. Claudia scuffed, "you might wont to answer that seeing how it's probably your ex wondering where her daughter is - she's upstairs by the way." With those last words Claudia headed upstairs while Sonny walked across the room to answer his phone.
UPSTAIRS:
It only took a few minutes for Kristina to make her way to Claudia's room. Claudia patted the bed for Kristina to hop in, "sorry you heard that." Kristina snuggled up to Claudia, "I'm sorry my dad's an ass." Both smiled and drifted off to sleep after talking about everything but nothing.
DOWNSTAIRS:
Sonny, "hello?" Alexis, "please tell me you have Kristina with you? Because I can't find her anywhere, and she's not answering my calls. Sonny, what if…" Sonny, "she's fine. She's upstairs asleep in her room. What's going on?" Alexis sighed a sigh of relief, "well tonight was because we got into an argument about her skipping school." Alexis went on and on about problems that didn't even seem like problems to Sonny. They just sounded like typical teenage cries for attention, Fuck! Claudia was right, "Well Alexis there's a good thing and the bad thing about her skipping school, which do you want first?" Alexis, "what do you mean good? What could be good about her skipping school!" Sonny took a breathe because he knew once he said what he was about to say Alexis was going to blow, "the good is she's been safe. And then what'd you probably consider the bad is that she's been hanging out here when she skips school." Alexis was silent for awhile, "what do you mean she's been skipping and staying at your house? Why would she…Who's…Is this where she meets Kefir? Are they…Are they se…" Sonny snapped, "Alexis if you say what I think your about to say I may have a heart attack. My daughter is not having sex! And she better not be with that Kefir kid!" Both sighed and Alexis broke first, "fine. I'm on my way, just give me a few minutes to…" Sonny, "Alexis she's already asleep just let her sleep here tonight." Alexis, "Sonny she's not four, she can be woken up. I'm coming to get my daughter." And with that Sonny knew this conversation was over, "Fine, see you soon." Sonny went upstairs to wake Kristina but didn't find her right away because she wasn't in her room. The next place he looked he did find her, wrapped up with Claudia like she was the adult protecting her. He watched for a few minutes, then went to wake her, "Kristina." She stirred a bit, "hmm?" Sonny, "Kristina, your mother's on her way. Please wake up." Kristina, "why don't want mommy dearest to find me up here. Think it'll hurt her to know I feel that Claudia's more of a mother to me than she ever was?" Sonny was in shook hearing this, "just please get up, she'll be here soon." Kristina opened her eyes, "yeah I thought you'd have nothing to say." Kristina watched and waited for her father to walk away before getting up. She sat up, kissed Claudia on the head and placed her hand on her stomach, "your big sister will see you tomorrow. Goodnight."
Kristina and Sonny waited together downstairs in silence for what seemed like forever, when in actuality it was no more than 15 minutes. Alexis came through the door, looked at Kristina and then turned toward Sonny, "thank you." He nodded and turned towards Kristina, "you are welcome to visit Kristina, but you need to do so after school. And your mother needs to know you're here of course, understand." It was more of a statement than a question, and Kristina still didn't believe her father was trying so she just gave him a fake smile, "yeah, next time I'll announce my visits. Can we go now." Alexis thanked Sonny again and then fallowed behind her daughter.
The next morning at breakfast Molly knew Krissy was mad and so was mom because they were avoiding each other. And just as she thought there was going to be a truce, her sister shocked her. Kristina, "can I go to dad's after school today?" Molly looked between the two because she's can't remember the last time Kristina asked to see her uncle Sonny. Alexis didn't want to blow up, so she took a deep breathe before answering, "I thought you where going to help your sister with her project today after school." Kristina, "she can come too. That'd be okay, right Molly?" Molly didn't know what to do, "umm…I…" Alexis breathed out, "clearly Molly doesn't want to go. And she needs to work on this project. You said you had no problem helping her, you should have changed your mind earlier." Kristina raised her voice, "I'm not changing my mind, I said she could come and we could do it there." The way things where going Alexis knew she was going to end up there anyway, "fine. But please be careful, and make sure you actually work on the project. And homework is to be completed." Kristina gathered her things, "Not that I'm driving, but I'd know to be careful with my little sister. And we always get our homework done." Kristina got up to leave, but was stopped, "who's picking you and your sister up from school then?" Kristina kept a straight face because she knew she couldn't tell her that She was going to have Kefir drop her off and then get Claudia to pick up Molly on the way to her appointment, "Milo." Alexis took another breathe, it's not that Max and Milo weren't good at their job but she just didn't want this for her girls, "fine. But Kristina please don't make me regret trusting you, because if you mess up this time…" Kristina felt a bit bad because she knew he mother wasn't going to forgive her, but she just nodded and headed for the kitchen. Kristina couldn't wait for school to end so she could go surprise Claudia and go to the ultrasound. Kristina used her key that Claudia gave her to let herself in. She checked the living room, but no sign of her. She went upstairs and found Claudia in her room and burst out laughing at the scene before her. Claudia gasped, and then relaxed when she saw it was Kristina, "this isn't funny, I can't fit my pants! These are my favorite jeans!" Kristina continued to laugh but caught herself when Claudia shot her a death glare, "Sorry. Okay, what about sweat pants?" Claudia made a gasping sound, "I am Claudia Zachariah - I DON'T wear sweat pants!" Kristina went towards the closet, "Okay, shhh…we'll find something." Twenty minutes later and they succeeded in finding something for Claudia to wear. Claudia made it downstairs and then freeze on the stairs, turned back towards Kristina, "didn't you just get in trouble yesterday? Are you suppose to be here?": Kristina walked passed her and headed toward the door, "yeah. And I'm suppose to send Milo for Molly too. Mom sent her, probably to be a spy. But I asked and mom, Claudia thought she was calling her, other mom said I could come. As long as Molly came with, we got our homework done, ect. Ect. Now can we go. I'm ready to see my baby brother." Claudia laughed and grabbed her clutch, "fine, lets go and hurry so you can come back and do your homework."
Molly, "Milo you really don't have to pretend you know how to do this. Kristina's suppose to be helping me. Where is she anyway, she should be here by now?" Milo, "I, umm…" Just then Kristina and Claudia both came in gushing about the ultrasound picture, nether knew if it's a boy or girl yet because it's to early, but they were still excited. Milo, thank God, "Um…Miss. K. your sister has been waiting for you to help with this science experiment that's way beyond her grade level." Molly turned towards Milo, "yes it's beyond my grade level, but not my comprehension. I told you didn't have to help because…" Molly noticed Kristina wasn't paying any attention to them, "hey what's that?" Claudia and Kristina both responded, "nothing." Kristina put the picture in her purse, and bent down to the floor where Molly was, "so what do you need help with?" Molly was suspicious but didn't push it, and instead went on explaining how Kristina could help. And Claudia somehow snuck off to the kitchen to cook something.