Chapter 1

Wednesday, October 11st, 2006

Haley held the pregnancy test tightly in her hands. She only had sex a couple of times with Steve and she was sure they always had used protection so the probability that she could be pregnant was very, very low but she couldn't help but think she was. No, she was sure she was pregnant. She could feel it.

She took a deep breath as she forced herself to open her eyes and see the result. Her body trembled slightly and she could feel the prick of tears behind her eyelids as the word "pregnant" appeared on the small screen.

She was pregnant. Like really pregnant.

The test slipped out of her hand and the girl put her hand over her mouth, slowly starting to cry. How could she be pregnant? Well, she knew how but she thought that... Haley opened her eyes and tried to breathe normally but it was damn hard. Her life was starting to fall apart and she couldn't do anything about that.

Haley was a normal seventeen year-old girl, with passions, friends, dreams and an ex boyfriend who happened to be one of her best friends and who'd eventually broken up with her right before leaving for a Navy base.

"It's not good for you to date a guy you can't see everyday and who can't take care of you, Hales." That's how Steve broke up with her. It wasn't because he didn't love her, it wasn't because he was afraid he could cheat on her, it wasn't because he wasn't ready for a relationship. It was just because he knew his job would be his priority and also because it would be too dangerous and he didn't want her to worry about him, not knowing where he was or what he was doing.

Steve had left and she was alone with a baby on the way. How could she do that? She was just a teenager and couldn't take care of a baby, not alone. Not there. Not without him.

Sunday, October 15th, 2006

Haley got out of her car and slowly headed to the McGarrett's household, then gently knocked at the door. She had been there many times before but it felt like it was the first time. She was going to tell her ex boyfriend's father that she was pregnant and she had no idea how he would take it. Sure, she'd known John and Elizabeth McGarrett since she was little because for a few years they were neighbours and also because her older sister went to school with Steve.

The curly-haired girl waited for an answer and as the man opened the door, she took a deep breath.

"Hello." She said with low voice, trying to show a smile but unfortunately she wasn't really in the mood.

"Hello to you, Haley. It's really good to see you. Come in." John gave her a big smile, ignoring what he was going to find out in a few minutes.

Haley slowly walked in and looked around. Everything was like the last time she had been there, nothing changed. Except for Steve's absence, obviously. As John shut the door behind himself, the girl found herself jumping a little.

"Tell me, why are you here? I mean, is there something I can do for you?" The man asked her and sat down on the couch, gesturing to her to sit down next to him.

"Uh.. There is something I should tell you."

Haley sat down on the couch and took a deep breath, looking down on her knees and starting to chewing on her bottom lip.

"Hey, you okay? You seem nervous." John told her, giving her one of his best smiles trying to reassure her, but without success.

"I-I... I took a pregnancy test a few days ago and.. I'm pregnant." Haley murmured, trying not to cry again. She had cried a lot in the previous days and she was starting to hate it. Also, she didn't want him to see her cry.

John opened his mouth a little and tried to say something, but obviously couldn't. No, she couldn't be pregnant.

"This is... Wow. Is it Steve's?" He asked after a minute or two. What a stupid question. It was obviously Steve's. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I mean, I've talked with my parents and they said that they're going to support me no matter what but I think I should call Steve and tell him about this. He's the father after all." Haley answered with a shrug, keeping her eyes on her knees and not being able to look up at him. It was her fault if she was pregnant. All her fault.

"No, that's out of question. Steve won't ever know about this baby. It's not safe for the baby, neither for you and my son. He needs to focus on his career." John quickly told her.

As Haley heard his answer, she frowned and looked up at him. He couldn't tell her not to call her ex boyfriend and tell him that she was pregnant. The baby wasn't only hers. It was also Steve's.

"Excuse me?" She asked, taking a deep breath and trying to stay calm. "Steve is the father. He deserves to know, whether he wants to keep the baby or not."

John shook his head. "No. I can take care of you and the baby, I can pay for everything – clothes, doctors, everything – but please, don't tell Steve you're pregnant. He would come back here and he can't. It's not safe."

Safe.

John said many times that word but Haley didn't know why. Why wasn't it safe staying in Hawaii with your family? Why did Steve have to leave and never come back? There were a lot of things that the girl didn't understand but there was something in John's eyes that made her feel uncomfortable, like something bad would happen but yet she felt reassured by those big blue eyes. He was protecting his son and she knew he would do anything for him and now, even for his grandson.

Haley was surprised of herself when she agreed. She had just said yes to hiding forever and lie about her future to 'protect' Steve but she felt like it was the best thing to do. The only thing to do.