What seemed like hours passed by as the group stood behind the register in the empty store. In reality it was only a few minutes, but time in their minds was gone. Austin held Ally tight while Trish placed a hand in Ally's and Dez placed his on Austin's shoulders. It was a simple gesture to let them know they weren't alone in this mess and one that Austin and Ally appreciated more than they could express.

Eventually Ally pulled away from Austin and wiped away the now completely running mascara from below her eyes. "I better go see if I can find him." she whispered focusing on the floor. They all offered to accompany her but she told them this was something she needed to do on her own. Austin wrapped her in a final hug before moving aside so she could leave.

Ally shuffled past the stores keeping her head down in hopes that nobody she knew would stop her. She had a hunch of where her dad had gone. When her parents divorced a few years ago she used to follow him to the secluded little fountain that sat almost forgotten behind the merry-go-round that had been shut down long ago. Ally remembered riding it when she was small but couldn't remember the past time she had seen it up and running. She had stood in the shadows and watched him cry there over her mother and she knew that was where he would probably go to cry over her.

As she turned the corner she saw him there as expected. His back was to her and he was hunched over on the fountain wall. She knew he was crying and she padded softly until she was only a few feet away from him.

"Dad?" she quietly called knowing she was only moments away from tears, "can we talk?"

Lester turned in surprise revealing reddened eyes and an expression of pure sadness. He didn't speak but continued to look at her as if he was silently telling her to continue. She took the last few steps to him and sat on the edge of the wall next to him. She looked down at her hands resting just above her knees because looking at him was just too hard.

"Dad…I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. After mom left I told myself I would never make you cry like she had but I messed up and now here you are…I never meant for this to happen." She spoke fighting the urge to mumble through tears that were brimming at her lids.

Lester moved to face her and took her hand. "Ally…I couldn't believe it when Austin told me you were pregnant. It felt like I was hit by a truck. All I kept thinking was how young you are and how much you have ahead of you. I wish your mother were around to help you through this…I'm scared for you."

Ally looked up at him and saw that he was staring back at her. "I know. Please don't be angry with me. I want to make this right and so does Austin."

"Well, I'll admit I was disappointed but I love you more than anything in the world and I will do what I can to help you. Have you and Austin discussed what you want to do with the baby? I mean raising a baby at 15 is a very difficult thing. It is hard enough when you are older." Lester said offering a side hug to his daughter.

"We talked a little bit about it and I think we are going to keep it. I don't think I could abort it and adoption is great but I want to at least try to raise the baby myself. You are the first person besides Dez and Trish I have told. Austin's parents don't know yet so after we talk to them we will have to try and work out a plan. I really am sorry for putting you through this dad. I always imagined that telling you I was having a baby would be a happy occasion where the only tears were out of joy." Ally explained feeling the knots in her stomach slowly dissipate.

"Well I always thought you would be much older, but honey, listen to me. This is still an occasion of joy. The timing is not great but God wouldn't have given you this baby if he didn't think you could handle it. We will get through this together and this baby will be a blessing." He assured smiling for the first time since he had heard.

Both stood and hugged again with Ally wiping away her tears against her father's chest. She had never expected it to go as well as it had and she was relieved that at least for now everything was good. Sure they still had to tell Austin's parents, but she had her dad's support so not having theirs would not be as crushing.

She would discuss with Austin later today how and when he wanted to talk to them. It would be up to him. If he wanted to wait she was okay with. It was after all still early in the pregnancy and being that she was incredibly young and petite she could still lose the baby.

She knew more discussions with her father were going to follow as she delved into the details with him about due dates and doctors. She was okay with that but was relieved he hadn't pressed her for that information immediately. Nobody had pressed her actually. She was pretty sure Austin could guess the timeline but he had no experience with babies so probably didn't even know what ten weeks along meant.

Her dad said he wanted to stay a few more moments by the fountain but that she could go ahead back to the store. She wanted to stay but thought he had given her a lot so not to push him. Nodding, she turned and made her way back past all the store fronts until she reached Sonic Boom and saw the anxious looks on her friend's faces.

Austin was pacing and Ally couldn't help but imaging him when the baby came. If he was nervous now just wait until he was waiting for his child to be born. She smiled a little at the thought and pulled back the door alerting the group she had returned. All focused her direction and stared at her begging the question of what she had found. "He just needed some time to think. He is okay and will be back soon." She offered in answer to the question they hadn't dared to ask.

"Well, you and Austin probably have some things to discuss so Dez and I will leave you alone. Come on Dez." Trish put forward pulling Dez from his seat and ushering him toward the door.

Ally loved her friends but she was glad for Trish's exit. She did have a lot to discuss with Austin. They had some decisions to make and she wanted to talk to him about some of the changes in their futures. With Trish and Dez gone silence filled the air and Ally took a seat on the piano bench waiting for Austin to speak first. She could see relief in his face but she could also see a hint to worry and she hoped he would share what was on his mind. He had been strong for her and now she was going to have to be strong for him because his parents were perfectionists and they wouldn't take it as well as Lester had she feared.

Nobody spoke but she was content to just sit in the silence and let the waves of realization of what had happened today wash over her. They both were.