I left Cate standing in the doorway of Baze's bar, that was one thing I would always regret. All I could think about was the fact that I was going to have a baby. The idea had seemed impossible to me just hours before. Sure Julia was no Cate but i didn't think it would be that bad. After all, Cate had Baze and Lux, so that made it okay. Right ?

I got to Julia's in under five minutes, the i20 had been in deadlock but when you have to present drive-time radio you know the loopholes on local roads. Julia lived in a suburban house not far from Cate and I couldn't help but think that it would be the perfect place to raise a kid. The front-room light was on, I knocked twice. Julia came to the door, Cate was right she was undeniably pregnant. "Ryan, I wasn't expecting you ?" she looked confused, not even in the beautiful way that Cate looked confused, with her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes intensely focused, Julia on the other hand looked like a lab rat that was going in for unexpected testing. "Julia, can I come in ?" she stepped back to let me in, I instinctively led the way to the kitchen, it was the place where Cate and I often worked things out. I heard the door shut behind me. Julia took a seat at the breakfast bar. I stared at her swollen stomach, what if she was carrying my kid, what would that mean for Cate and I ? "Tell me the truth Julia, are you having my baby ?" I had to be tough, I knew Julia she would lie to make things better for me and Cate, but I couldn't leave a child in the world that could even be mine. "Oh, Ryan, it is, I'm so sorry you have to believe me. I made the decision to tell you but time just ran away and I didn't know what to do and..." she trailed off into nothing. She looked so lost and small and right then I made my decision.

I left Julia's at eleven that night. It was true she was having my baby. A tiny part of me worried about Cate but truthfully I was exultant about the fact that I was to become a dad. I drove home in silence, not even bothering to turn on the radio. I pulled up in front of the house, Cate was home. I could see her shadow moving behind the curtains of the front room. It wasn't going to be easy telling Cate that I had chosen the and Julia but I was going to have to do it fast.

My key turned slowly in the door, cate had been walking down the hallway and I saw her stop and turn around through the distorted coloured glass. I pushed open the door and there she was. Just standing there, she was so beautiful and I felt doubt creeping up in me. Maybe I should choose Cate ? But I couldn't leave a kid without a father when I had the opportunity to be there for him or her. I spoke, "Cate, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." she already knew what was coming but that didn't stop her collapsing, she crumbled into a heap at the bathroom door. I heard something move in the bathroom and then Baze walked out. "You son of a bitch ! How could you do this to her ? She has just lost your baby and your giving her up for a sleazy whore who can give you what you want !" he was pointing at me. I whispered sorry one last time and left.

Baze

"Cate honey, it's okay look at me, cate." I whispered softly. God I really loved her.

"Baze what did I do w-wrong ?" she asked meekly.

I sighed.

"nothing, you did absolutely nothing wrong, you hear me."

I picked her up and carried her to her room. She burrowed under the sheets. I sat on the side of her bed and stroked her back. After a while her crying subsided and i could hear that she was asleep. I left quietly and went up to Lux's loft.

"I'm guessing you heard that huh kiddo." I walked over to her bed and got into it with her.

"Yeah I did." she shook her head silently,"I really hate Ryan right now. I think you and Cate are perfect for eachother it's just so dumb how she cares so much about this guy who just wants a kid and probably couldn't care less about the mom." I nodded. Lux might not look like Cate but she had her brains no doubt. "Baze are you going to live with us now?" I had no genuine answer to this question but I knew what I wanted.

"Maybe for a little while kiddo, just till Cate gets back on her feet." I tried not to sound to enthusiastic.

"Okay, well I'm gonna call it a night now yeah?" Lux smiled and I kissed her forehead and left.

I tiptoed into Cates room where I found her awake and reading a baby book.

"Cate what have you got that for ?" I asked, cautiously making my way to the bed.

" It's just a bit of light reading, just until Ryan comes back and we can pick up from where we left off." oh god, this was way worse than I had ever thought.

"Cate honey Ryan isn't coming back, he is with Julia now." I tried to say it easy but let's face it there isn't an easy way to tell a woman the man she thought loved her is going to have a baby with another woman.

"I know." she sobbed putting the book down "Oh Baze why has this happened to me. Why is it that every guy i like tries to leave me when the going gets tough?"

"Cate listen to me. I am not leaving you. Okay?" I said firmly. She nodded. I felt her lean against me. Her small body giving in.