I really enjoyed writing this chapter. It was really the first time I truly explore Sophia and Taylor's relationship independent of the show's storyline. The next chapter also deals with this, I really wanted to show Sophia and Taylor bonding a little bit without, of course, being overly explicit.

Iris Kane

…

Chapter 7-Pure

Taylor

When I next wake up, it takes me a minute to figure out where I am, but looking around my mind is drawing a blank the inside of the dim room is unfamiliar. Inhaling slowly, I force myself to calm down recovering from my initial shock of being in unfamiliar surroundings. I appear to be in some sort of barn, which seems deserted and judging by the light coming through the small windows it is most likely late morning.

My eyes sweep around the room once more and for the first time I see Sophia's small figure curled up nearby. I smiled briefly. Her position reminding me of a cat or any manner of small animal that was independent if left to its own devices. That was when I realized that was how Sophia had always been, but I suppose crashing on a strange planet and integrating into a foreign society would do that to a person.

Sophia seem to sense me staring at her because she opened her eyes and looked at me her face instantly brightening.

"Oh… hey… great, you're awake."

I sat up slowly, extracting myself from the nest of blankets and sacks in which I found myself.

"Yeah…" I mumbled, "how long have I been asleep?"

"Pretty much since we brought you in early this morning." Sophia answered.

I frowned.

"What happened?" I asked. "Last thing I remember the nurses were giving me another shot of morphine."

"Drake decided you and the baby weren't safe in the hospital, the doctors were asking too many questions. Your baby has two hearts you know," Sophia smiled, "it's an Atrian thing."

"Oh." Was my intellectual response.

Sophia continued.

"Roman says that's what saved the baby in the car crash, kind of like what happened with him when he first got here the second heart just… Kicks in."

I rubbed my forehead.

"Yeah… You would think as the mom I could remember something like that. I don't know, I was pretty out of it when they were doing the ultrasound, but they must have done one, right?"

Sophia nodded.

"What do you remember Taylor?" She asked suddenly.

I shook my head, shrugging.

"Not much." I replied. "Everything is all fuzzy."

Sophia inched closer. "Try, what's the last thing you remember."

"I remember driving…" I said slowly, "I remember this bright flash of light and this jolt like a sonic boom. The car flipped over and I was trapped, and the fire, I thought I was going to die." I finished honestly.

"What you remember after that?" Sophia asked gently.

I shook my head.

"I think I passed out… Somebody must have called for help because the next thing I remember I was in the hospital."

Sophia crawled over so she was sitting next to me.

"I'm glad you're all right," she said grinning, "you have no idea… How worried everybody was."

"What happened to everybody else?"

Sophia sighed, her smile fading.

"A lot of people were hurt, but Roman and Drake are okay and I wasn't in the worst of it so I'm good. The blast killed half a dozen Traggs and Emery was knocked out pretty good, she was in a coma for almost a month."

"She's alright now, isn't she?"

Sophia nodded then she smirked, an odd expression that didn't quite fit her heart-shaped face.

"Roman's been practically living at the hospital, he's barely left her side since the EMTs brought her in."

"Yay for Emery." I mumbled sarcastically before settling back against the blankets and closing my eyes again.

"There's something else." Sophia added, her tone unusually serious.

I open my eyes a fraction.

"What?" I asked, slightly alarmed by her tone.

"Grayson's dead." Sophia announced flatly.

My eyes opened and I blinked, unsure I had heard her correctly.

"What?" I finally managed. "How?" I asked, barely able to force the single word past my lips.

"Drake said he was shot, and then the energy surge from the device did the rest of the job. Normally that wouldn't have killed somebody but…" She trails off looking sad again.

I only felt slightly numb. I hadn't known Grayson well, we had been going to school together since we were little, but in high school we hadn't really run in the same circles. We had only dated briefly before he and Emery started going out.

Sophia and I were silent for a long time and for a while the only sound I could hear was the creaking of the barn. It was only then I realized I was crying, but duh, of course I was crying, I was always crying I was pregnant for crying out loud!

"Are you okay?" Sophia asked softly.

I let out a ragged sigh which sounded more like a sob and nodded, still trying to force down the lump in my throat.

"No one I know has ever died before, I mean, other than people that are "suppose" to die, you know, old people."

Sophia didn't say anything, she only put a hand on my shoulder.

"Did I miss anything else?" I asked.

"That's nothing you need to worry about right now," Sophia said softly, "it's-it's not good for you or the baby."

I smiled.

"Why so concerned about me, huh?"

Sophia cocked her head curiously.

"I care about you, I don't like seeing you hurt or sad."

Slowly Sophia's fingers inched upward sliding from my shoulder to my neck and up to my face. Her fingers are soft and cool, they trace my jaw and chin then she leans down; her lips touched mine. There is something so pure and innocent about Sophia I guess that's one thing I like about her. So many girls my age aren't like that, for them, (sadly, I include myself in this category) it's all about sex, but for Sophia, that's the last thing on her mind.

I should be used to the sensation by now but it still shocks me. It's nothing like kissing Drake or any other boy, it is soft and gentle as if she has all the time in the world. Then before I can think about it I take control of the kiss I angled my head and press back against her mouth, my lips parting, a soft groan escaping my throat. Sophia moves closer so she is practically sitting in my lap (what is left of it anyway). I'm almost 4 months pregnant and I feel like it's been forever since I've felt beautiful. Then I realized Sophia made me feel beautiful, she saw my worth when I didn't see it in myself.

Finally Sophia pulls back and she smiles, her dark eyes twinkling.

I look up at her.

"The belly doesn't bother you?" I ask.

Sophia looks surprised.

"No!" She exclaims, "No, of course not! Should it? Look, you're pregnant that shouldn't be a qualification on whether people think you're beautiful or not."

I sigh.

"I guess I just don't feel beautiful anymore, and I probably haven't been suitably clean in almost a month and maybe getting out of this," I pluck absently at the hospital gown I am still wearing, "would help."

"Two things:" Sophia states firmly as she scrambles to her feet, "one, I think your gorgeous pregnant or not, and two I'll be more than happy to find you some clothes, a girl looking good shouldn't be a crime. By the way, what is it?"

I frown.

"What's what?" I asked, confused.

Sophia grins and giggles softly.

"The baby, silly, boy or girl?"

"Oh." I reply, feeling stupid, then I grin.

"Boy, at least that's what I think they said… It's pretty hard to miss the you know what."

I laughed for the first time in what feels like forever, lately there hasn't been much to laugh about.

"Alright then, mommy I'll be right back," she winks, "and in the meantime we can start thinking of the cover story were going to tell your mom when she finds out you've been sprung from the hospital."