Leon was back at school on Friday, but it wasn't until school was over and they were leaving the premises that Dylan was able to catch up to him.

"Hey," he greeted Hannah's twin.

Leon glanced at him out of the corner of his eye as they walked along the sidewalk. "Hey."

"So, uh… what's up with Hannah?"

"None of your business." Leon answered so quickly that Dylan knew it wasn't the first time that he'd given that answer today.

"She's not, like, sick, is she?"

Leon sighed, scuffed the toe of his tennis shoe against the cracked cement, seemingly coming to a decision. "If I tell you, you do not, under any circumstances, tell anyone without mine or Hannah's express permission. No one. Are we clear?"

Dylan nodded, brows creasing with concern at the other boy's nearly fierce tone. "Of course."

Leon sighed again, keeping his eyes on the ground as he told Dylan. "Hannah… she was carrying a baby."

"Pregnant?" Dylan repeated, letting that news sink in.

He hadn't seen that coming, not even with all of the scenarios that he had thought up since the day before. But it made sense. The panic in her eyes when she had asked, Can you tell already?

"Danny's baby." Leon growled, obviously angry with their recently deceased peer. "That's why he killed himself. Hannah told him that she didn't want to kill the baby. He figured out that she wasn't going to change her mind and he couldn't handle it. So instead of the baby dying that day, Danny did."

The boys walked for a few minutes in silence, Dylan being stunned beyond words. "Wait a second," he said after a minute. "Hannah was carrying a baby?"

"Yeah. She got so upset when she found out about Danny, and was so upset for so long, I guess, that she couldn't physically handle it. She miscarried Wednesday night."

"Oh man," Dylan said softly. "I… I don't know what to say."

Leon shrugged, having yet to look up from the ground in front of him.

"How is she?"

Leon scoffed, every word he said as hard as stone now. "She just lost a baby. Her child died, Dylan. How do you think that she's doing?"

Dylan flinched. "How are you doing?" he asked after pausing for a second.

"Outside of wanting to strangle the life out of Danny, just fine."

"If it helps, he's already dead."

"Yeah, I know. That's the problem. If that stupid jerk hadn't committed suicide, Hannah wouldn't have miscarried! She would still be fine and my niece or nephew would still be alive! He killed that baby!"

That was a stretch, Dylan knew, but he also understood the need to have someone to blame. Danny was obviously the easiest target.

"I'm so sorry, Leon."

Leon looked at him out of the corner of his eye, eyes hard. "Aren't you supposed to ask if there's anything you can do, since you're a preacher and everything?"

"Maybe." Dylan answered with a shrug. "But I know that it doesn't seem like it right now, does it?"

Leon kicked at the sidewalk, lowering his eyes again.

"You know," Dylan continued thoughtfully, "There's a verse that says that it's actually better for those that were never born. I'm not sure where it's at, Ecclesiastes, I think."

"Do not talk to me about God right now." Leon ordered sharply.

Dylan swallowed. Was I this angry when Emily died? "But it's right." He said hesitantly. "The younger one is when they die, the less they have to go through while on earth. And, considering that, doesn't it seem like it would be best to die like Hannah's baby? Before they know anything beside warmth and safety?"

Leon didn't answer at first, but Dylan could tell that he was thinking about what he'd said. "Only the good die young, huh?"

Recognizing the title of a song, Dylan allowed a grin to twitch at the corners of his mouth as he nodded. "Something like that, yeah."

For the first time in a while, Leon looked Dylan in the eye, asking, "Do you think, could you… come see Hannah? Maybe tell her what you just told me? I don't know if it'll help or not, but it's something. I know it's a lot to ask, but you kind of, I don't know,… you get it."

Dylan nodded. "Sure, I guess." He bit his lip. "I could try, anyway."

"Thanks, man." Leon said with a ghost of a smile.

Another minute of almost companionable silence passed between the two of them before Dylan asked hesitantly, "Do you mind if I… It's just, if you want someone who understands what Hannah's going through, my mom… would understand her feelings better than I would. Do you think that it would be okay if I tell my parents and see if my mom can come with me?"

Leon considered this as Dylan added, "They really do like Hannah, and I know that they'd be willing to do what they could to help you all out."

"Alright." Leon agreed.

Dylan allowed himself a little smile as the two boys stopped at the place where they parted ways to go to their own houses. "Alright."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

A final nod of his head and Leon started down his road.

"And, hey," Dylan added, "Just so you know, I'm praying for you and your family."

Leon smirked skeptically back at Dylan as he walked away.

Sorry if the writing seems not up to my usual standards somehow. It kinda feels like it to me for some reason. Sorry that this chapter is on the shorter side. And I know that it's an unusual plot, but please, if you review, no flames. I hope that you enjoy this story! Thanks, guys (and girls)!:)