Hey :) so I'm sorry it's been a while since I updated but I've been kinda preoccupied – busy week getting exam results back and thankfully I passed all my classes :) and visiting friends but anyway... :) here's the next chapter and hopefully it'll get the story rolling a bit more rather than just dragging along.
Hope you enjoy it!

Darcy's POV

"Darcy, I'm gonna go now – I have that pitch for my song today, so I won't be back until late ok?"

I just looked at him from the kitchen island I was sitting at and nodded before taking another bite of the blueberry muffin I was eating for breakfast.

Ryan had been stressing about this business pitch for about a month and a half now. If this record company liked his song, they might hire him as their permanent song writer, so obviously this was a big deal to him. He'd made such an effort too – a brand new suit, hair styled back out of his face and a dark green tie he was adjusting in the mirror.

"You gonna be ok today? I heard you throwing up this morning but when I came in to check on you, you were fast asleep." He asked while looking in the mirror and fixing his collar.

Urgh. I really didn't need to be reminded of that. I spent about 2 hours just constantly throwing up in the early hours of this morning. Luckily my morning sickness was starting to wear off though – it was much worse a few weeks ago.

I just mumbled "uh-huh" while breaking apart another part of my blueberry muffin and throwing it in my mouth.

I watched him grab his briefcase and pick up my car keys. Ryan's car broke down a couple of weeks ago so he's been borrowing mine ever since. I don't really mind that much but I think Ryan did to begin with. He said he felt kinda stupid driving around in my light green VW beetle but now I think he loves that car just as much as I do.

"Right, I'm going now. Wish me luck. Love you." He said to me as he ran over to kiss the top of my head before running over to the front door.

"Good luck! Love you too!" I shouted after him with my mouth full. The latch clicked loudly as the door shut, leaving me all alone in the silent apartment. I ran my tongue over my teeth and walked over to my phone that I threw on the sofa this morning. As I picked it up I saw I had 2 new messages and a voicemail, so I listened to the voicemail first.

"Hey beautiful..." I immediately smiled as I heard James' voice. I always did, I just couldn't help it. I smile whenever we talk on the phone, when we just catch each other's eyes and even when I hear him singing on the radio. I fell back on the sofa with my knees bent to listen to the rest of the message.

"...I'm guessing you're probably asleep – you never were one to wake up early." He chuckled and I laughed too. He always made fun of the fact that I was definitely not a morning person and it could take him ages to get me out of bed, in fact normally, he had to physically carry me out of bed or occasionally bribe me.

In fact, there was one morning where he and he guys planned a whole military operation to get me out of his bed, with the plan written on whiteboards and complete with them all wearing bandanas in various styles.
I remember Logan opened the curtains quickly so the light was shining on my face; Carlos was jumping on the bed next to me and squirting water on my face, Kendall pulled the duvet off of me and James threw me over his shoulder and carried me out of the bedroom and put me on a chair at the dining table.
I was so confused by the whole situation and before I could even shout at them, Logan had placed a plate in front of me and stood back with the others and they all had massive smiles on their faces. To be honest it was kinda creeping me out and I had to look away, so I decided to look at the plate that was put in front of me. There was a little tower of pancakes covered in chocolate sauce, just the way I like it and written in the sauce was "Morning! We love Darcy". I had to laugh and smile at the guys – they really are the best friends a girl could want.

"I just wanted to say that I'm kinda upset that I haven't been able to talk to you on web cam like the others but I'm sure that we'll get to soon yeah? Ah I've missed you Darce and I wanna see you smile again..." he sighed.

"Oh well, I really wanna talk to you soon ok? Don't sleep for too long gorgeous, you don't need any more beauty sleep – you're stunning as you are. I love you D. Always have and always will."

The message ended and I tried to ring him back straight away but it went straight to voice mail, I guess he was rehearsing or something so I decided to see who my new messages were from.

FROM: KENDALL

Everything is going to be fine Darce...I promise. No matter what happens me and the guys will always be here for you - you're like our baby sister :) it means a lot to me that you told me and make sure you keep uncle Kendie updated on how everything's going :) xxx

It's so nice not to have to lie to my best friend anymore, I mean Kendall and I tell each other pretty much everything. Uncle Kendie? The guys will make amazing uncles to the baby and I know that James will make an amazing father; it's just whether or not he wants to be.

I made a mental note to reply to Kendall's message later before checking my other message.

FROM: KATIE

Hey :) I'm kinda bored without the guys around and I was wondering if you are too? Do you wanna hang out or something? :) x

Aww that's so cute. Katie and I have always been close ever since I moved here, she's like a little sister to me and I'm like a big sister to her – she normally comes to me if she wants to talk about stuff, we come up with plans to prank the guys together and normally just hand out.

TO: KATIE

hey mini k :) that sounds good :) i'll be down to 2J in like 20 minutes x

I jumped off the sofa walked into my room to get dresses as I was still in my pyjamas. Right, Katie's not stupid – in fact she's unusually clever for a girl her age, so I can't give her even the tiniest hint that I'm pregnant.

I grab my floral babydoll maxi dress because it's loose and won't cling to my stomach and it's perfect for a gorgeous summer day in LA.

I pinned my hair up so it was kinda half up-half down, left the naturally loose curls over my shoulders, put on my traditional make-up, put some wooden bangles on my wrist and a long gold chain with a gold heart on the end around my neck.

I put on my gladiator sandals and grabbed my tan leather handbag, iPhone, purse, camera and put my sunglasses on the top of my head as I walked out the door and headed down to 2J.

After our shopping trip Katie and I were sitting on the sofa in 2J with bowls full of ice cream laughing at the pictures of us in certain outfits in the changing rooms of the stores we went into earlier.

I picked a really funny one of the two of us to upload onto Twitter and e-mail to the guys. I was wearing a short psychedelic 60's style dress with white go-go boots, Katie was wearing brightly printed flared trouser's with a matching fringed waistcoat, go-go boots and a headband and we were both pouting and holding up peace fingers.

"Oh, I'll be right back I just have to go and help Tyler find a new hiding place quickly." Katie smiled while jumping out of her seat and walking towards the front door of 2J. "I won't be too long."

I just smiled and waved to her as my mouth was full of ice cream. Suddenly I felt overcome with sickness again, so I took the ice cream to the kitchen and drank a glass of water while sitting at the kitchen island.

Just then, Mrs Knight came with brown bags full of groceries.

"Hi Mrs Knight. Do you need a hand with anything?" I asked her with a smile on my face.

"Oh, hello Darcy and I think I'm ok actually but thanks for asking sweetie." She smiled back at me.

I'd always liked Mrs Knight – She's really kind, welcoming and kind of a saint for managing to look after 4 teenage boys and a daughter for the past few years.

In fact, she's the main mother figure in my life to be honest and I think I've kinda been like an adopted daughter to her ever since James and I first started dating.

We ended up chatting for a few minutes as she began to put the groceries away. We spoke about everything really – me and James, how weird it is without the guys around, school, work, y'know normal stuff.

Just as we were laughing about how fish stick Friday isn't the same with just the few of us and Mrs Knight had made her a coffee, I really thought that I was going to throw up all over the table I was leaning on.

I tried to not let it show on my face but eventually I couldn't help it, I just had to run to the bathroom and throw up.

Mrs Knight quickly ran after me and held my hair back for me and rubbed my back.

Once I was finished, she ran and got me a glass of water as I just sat on the floor of their bathroom running my hands through my hair.

"There you go honey." She smiled at me, handing me the glass of water before sitting on the floor next opposite me with her back leaning against the bathtub.

I just mouthed thank you and took a big sip of the water to try and get rid of the burning sensation in my throat and the disgusting after taste.

Mrs Knight took a deep sigh and smiled a little at me "Is everything alright Darcy?" she asked quietly while tilting her head slightly to the right.

I just nodded and looked at the tiles on the floor and taking another sip from the glass in my hands, doing all I could to avoid eye contact.

"You sure? You know you can tell me anything don't you?" her voice cut through the silence again softly.

I don't know what came over me, maybe it's all the stupid pregnancy hormones but it's like I just couldn't control myself and I just burst into tears right there and then and started to shake my head.

"I don't know what to do...I'm so scared and I feel so bad and I just..." I tried to say over my tears but the words were starting to get stuck in my throat and my breathing was hitched.

Mrs Knight leaned over to me and gave me a warm hug. I also imagined that this is what life would be like if my mother was around. There were so many times when I was younger that I wished I had a motherly figure to hug me like this.

"Mrs Knight, please don't be angry with me or think any less of me." I said quietly over her shoulder before we pulled away from our hug.

She just nodded, smiled and looked genuinely concerned.

"I didn't mean for this to happen...I'm so confused and I am unbelievably terrified...what I mean is...I'm pregnant."

I don't know what I expected for her to do but she just kinda gave a sympathetic smile and sighed.

"I know Darcy." She said quietly with a small smile.

"What...How?" I asked confused.

How could she know? Maybe Kendall told her? But I only told him last night and Mrs Knight told me that she hadn't spoken to him since the day before yesterday, so how could he have told her?

"Ryan told me." She said softly and kindly. That makes sense now. Whenever Ryan was confused or stressed about how to deal with looking after a teenage girl he would turn to Mrs Knight. She would normally help him or support him in some ways so I really should've guessed he'd go to her.

"It was right after you told him." She continued while passing me a tissue to wipe my eyes with. "I was jogging through Palmwoods Park when I saw Ryan sat on a bench with his head in his hands. When I went over to him and asked him what was wrong he started to cry and told me everything."

I can't believe he was crying. Ryan never cries but I managed to reduce my strong older brother to tears with my mistake. This guilt only caused more tears to fall from my eyes.

"Honestly, he's been keeping me updated on everything for the past few months. I wanted you to know that I'm always here for you no matter what, but I wanted for you to tell me about the situation whenever you were ready." She told me smiling and patting my hand.

Kendall and Katie are so lucky to have such an understanding, caring and supportive mother – she's honestly like the mother I never had. I couldn't stop sniffing and my hitched breathing had started to calm down as I pulled her into another hug, smiling in her shoulder.

"Thank you Mrs Knight. You have no idea how much this means to me." I said into her shoulder.

"Oh don't you worry honey and please, call me Jen." She smiled back at me as we pulled apart. I could only laugh and wipe my eyes with the tissue again.

"But Darcy honey, you have to tell James. He needs to know that he's gonna be a father and the longer you leave it the worse it'll be. It's not fair on him otherwise." She told me with a serious face.

I knew she was right. I think I needed someone to talk to me seriously about this to help me realise what I need to do.

"I know, you're completely right. I just...telling him means that things are gonna be different – and probably not a good different..." I trailed off.

"I know, but Darcy it's gonna be different whether you like it or not. I'm just proud of you taking responsibility and we just have to hope that's what James does too." She said kindly with a kinda motherly smile on her face.

She's right. She's completely right. No matter what happens, things are gonna change and I just have to grow up and do what's right for my future and the future of my baby.

"I'm gonna tell him. I'm gonna find a way to wherever they are at the moment and I'm gonna tell him." I said loudly as I took a deep breath.

"Honey, the boys are flying out to Europe tonight." Mrs Knight reminded me.

Shit, I completely forgot about Europe. I can't just fly out there unexpectedly and I am not telling him the most important news of his life through text or over the phone.

Mrs Knight must have seen the sudden realisation and panic on my face as she quickly spoke again.

"But they're in Seattle at the moment, and there is a flight from LAX to Seattle in just over an hour. If you get on that plane, you should catch them in time before they have to leave for the airport." She told me with a smile on her face.

I just stood quickly in the bathroom and hugged her once again. I'm so grateful for her pushing me in the right direction and helping me make the right decision.

I quickly straightened out my maxi dress and wiped my hands under my eyes to rub away any smudged make-up before running out to the living room and grabbing my bag and heading for the door.

I mouthed thank you to Mrs Knight and with a smile, shut the door behind me and ran for the stairs down to the lobby.

I pushed past everyone in my way and ran outside and stood on the sidewalk.

"TAXI!"

One stopped right in front of me and I quickly opened the door and slid in on the backseats.

"Where to Miss?" the driver asked me as I checked my purse for my money and credit card. Thank God I took a lot of money out this morning.

"LAX please."

How was that? I found myself having a bit of writers block with this one :S but hopefully I won't with the next chapter as it should have a bit more drama to it :) well...that is if people want there to be a next chapter! :) Thank you for reading and any reviews with comments or suggestions would be really appreciated :)

Much Love Always

Ally xx