October 30, 1969

Jennifer POV

"Feel better, hun. I'll see you later." Soda kissed my forehead and headed off to work. I pulled the comforter tighter around me and tried to fall back asleep, but I couldn't. I slipped out of bed and went down to the kitchen to make myself a hot cup of tea. I sat down on the couch and the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Jennifer. Sodapop said you weren't feeling well." Angelina's voice on the other end of the phone was comforting and I leaned back into the couch slightly.

"Yeah. I've been pretty nauseous lately and have had really bad headaches."

"Are you on your period?" I thought back to the last time I had my period. Not since two weeks before the wedding. I almost dropped the phone. "Jennifer? Are you all right?"

"Angelina, I need you to do me a favor. Could you run down to the drugstore and buy me a pregnancy test?" I began feeling butterflies in my stomach.

"You think you're pregnant? You just got married a month ago." I could practically see Angelina's half confused and half annoyed face.

"Please, Angelina." I almost begged.

"I'll be over in twenty minutes." Angelina sighed.

"Thanks." I hung up the phone and began pacing around the living room. Pregnant. Mother. Baby. Family. The four words repeated over and over in my head and I couldn't decide if I was more excited or scared. Probably some of both.

Angelina let herself into the house, set down her shopping bag, and hugged me.

"Let's just get it over with." I sighed as I took the small box into the bathroom. I read the instructions twice before I finally took the test. When I finished, I set the stick on the counter by the sink and returned to the living room.

"We need to wait for five minutes." I said as I sat down next to Angelina.

"All right." She looked up at the clock.

"Would you like something to drink? I could make you a cup of tea or something."

"No thanks."

Even though we only had to wait five minutes, it felt like we waited five hours instead. Finally, the moment of truth came.

"Want me to come with you?" I nodded my head and Angelina gently took my hand and led me to the bathroom. I picked up the test and studied it carefully. Positive.

"It's positive." I said slowly, my eyes becoming wider. Angelina's mouth dropped open.

"You have to tell Sodapop." She breathed.

"Tonight." I said quietly, more to myself than to her.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" Angelina asked quietly.

"No. You have classes today, and I need a little time to myself." She nodded her head and turned to the door. "And don't tell anyone." I called after her.

"Honey, I'm home!" Soda called as he walked in. I giggled slightly as I took dinner out of the oven.

"Just in time too. I just took the eggplant parmesan out of the oven."

"Smells good." Sodapop hugged me from behind and kissed my temple. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes." I said simply.

"Good. I'm going to change and then we can eat, all right?" I nodded my head as Soda released me and ran upstairs.

"Jennifer? What's this?" I smiled to myself, knowing he had found the pregnancy test on our dresser.

"I don't know honey. What is it?" I called, playing dumb.

Sodapop came downstairs shirtless with the test in his hand and set it on the counter in front of me.

"I - I'm pregnant." I said quietly.

"What?"

"We're going to be parents." I said slightly louder. Sodapop pulled me into a bone crushing hug and spun me around the kitchen.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

Sodapop nearly ran me over trying to get to the phone.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to push him into the armchair.

"I have to tell Darry." He nearly yelled at me. He lost his balance and I managed to get him seated.

"No you don't. We shouldn't tell anyone until three months."

"Ugh. Fine." He looked at me with puppy eyes got back up I gently kissed his lips. He pulled me into his lap and one of his hands wandered down to my stomach and rested there. "I'm going to be a daddy." He said softly, his voice cracking a bit. "I love you both."