I know it's been forever since I updated and I apologize but I've just been so busy. I graduated high school recently and all the work I've had to do the past couple of months has really discouraged my updating. But, I'm here now with an update- the other half of last chapter. Enjoy


There it was the two solid parallel lines crossing themselves together to form a big, bright pink plus sign. "W-w-what?"

Amy started to cry again, letting all the tears escape her eyes in massive heaps, her heart slowly starting to chip in pieces. "I'm pregnant…"

Ricky's eyes were still fixated directly on the object in his hands, staring at that pink plus sign until his vision began to blur.

He could hear Amy speaking to him, but none of her words registered in his mind. His head was screaming at him to say something, anything that would make the girl, wracking with sobs in front of him, feel better about what she just told him.

Silence passed between them.

"Ricky… will you… p-pl-please s-say s-something?" she choked out between sobs.

His eyes met hers, seeing the tears slide down her face as he fought the ones starting to make their way down his. "How?" was all he said at first, looking from Amy, to the pregnancy test, to their bed then back at her. "But we- we used-... and you,-" he pointed in her direction "-you're on the-... and it's- it's been a week since-... what-... how-..." he stuttered with lone stray tears sliding down his own face.

"I-I-I don-n't k-nn-ooww" she sobbed covering her face with her hands. He swallowed hard, lying the test down on their end table by the bed, before going to her and wrapping his arms around her as she sobbed into his chest.

They just stood there for a few minutes, just holding each other before Ricky broke the silence.

"I- I need some- some air" he muttered lightly, breaking their embrace.

"Ricky please..." she pleaded, wiping the discarded tears from her cheeks.

"Amy..." He touched her elbow gently, "I need this..." wrapping one arm across her torso, "I'll be back...", giving her left shoulder a light squeeze, his eyes closed, "promise..." kissing her hair before letting her body go and walking out the door.

She sighed, chewing on her bottom lip while staring up at the ceiling with teary eyes.


His footsteps tapped against the cracked pavement of the sidewalk; wiping away the beads of sweat that had gathered on his neck from the humid august air, blowing air from his cheeks as he reached his destination.

He stood before a rickety old park bench: the paint worn, the wood broken in several places, the screws beginning to stick out of their place- the old bench in all its glory.

Ricky sat slowly, careful to avoid the splintery part of the wood- last thing he needed was to return home to Amy with a splinter up his ass, he could only image how that conversation would go- thinking about it, he chuckled, patting the worn wood gently with his right palm.

Sitting in the calm of the night Ricky began to think about Amy, did he really just walk out on her again? Here she was confused and scared and emotional no doubt and he just walked out, he was an idiot.

His thoughts were interrupted when he spotted a figure making their way toward the nearby oak tree.

The figure was tall and lanky, slouched against the tree, the green spray painted letters hidden behind his head, a long white stick between his fingers- a cigarette no doubt.

The teen could feel the stranger's eyes on him as he tried to squint through the darkness of the night- noticing a few familiar things about the figure staring at him. Cautiously he started to approach the bench, not wanting to start any kind of trouble, but wanting to put a face to the figure wringing their hands in the darkness.

Ricky's eyes were careful watching the tall blonde move closer to his space.

The lanky boy got close enough to the bench to figure out who the face belonged to. "Well look who it is" the blond declared, "the mighty Rickster himself."

Ricky's head turned slightly, seeing the all too familiar blonde from his past. "Nate?" he squinted.

Nate starred "You look different man" he approached Ricky, standing centimeters from his old best friend.

"Well not seeing someone for 4 years, tends to give you that perception"

"Right…"

"What are you doing here anyways? Shouldn't you be hanging out with your other friends, the ones you thought were so important 4 years ago?" Ricky spat, pressing all the hurt he felt towards Nate down deeper in his mind.

"Whoa no need to get so hostile here buddy"

"Please. Me not be so hostile? Well then you tell me 'buddy' how am I supposed to respond to someone who used to be my best friend getting sent away for selling drugs then, huh? Am I supposed to be happy to see you?"

"Yes."

"Not happening."

"Look" Nate shouted "I know I screwed up dude! I know. Believe me 4 years in juive taught me that, but I am sorry, okay? I'm sorry I abandoned you that night to go with those kids. I'm sorry you had to watch me get arrested for selling weed, and I'm sorry I called you a bunch of stupid things for not joining me that night. I. am. Sorry. Ricky."

"How could you do something so stupid?" Ricky yelled back "You were only fourteen, Nate. 14 years old and already sentenced to 4 years in juive! You are an absolute idiot. And for what? Selling weed? Was it really worth the 4 years in jail to get high?

"No! Look I said I'm sorry! What more do you want me to say? I screwed up alright?" Nate clasped a hand over his neck, squeezing the tension away "I screwed up my life, my parents' lives- not that they were surprised by it anyways- my grandpa's life and your life! I know!" he took a seat next to Ricky on the bench, "I don't know what else to say dude. Those 4 years away really made me think about my life and now I'm doing great. I've got a job, a girlfriend, I'm in an out-patient rehab 3 days a week, and enrolled in AA, it's as best as it's going to get for me.

"Well I'm glad you're getting help…" Ricky stated, "So things are looking up for you… that's good I guess…"

"Like I said it's as good as it's going to get. So do you… do you forgive me?"

Ricky stared out into the darkness. "There is a saying I always tell myself", craning his neck until he heard it pop "and it's that forgiving someone gives people the ability to move forward. We've all made mistakes- God knows I have- so…" he clasped his hands together exhaling deeply before continuing "…in order for me to be able to move past the anger I've harbored over what you did 4 years ago… yes, I will forgive you…"

"Really?" Nate's eyes bulged, stunned "See I knew once you saw me we'd be back to the old us. Nate and the Rickster are back and better than ever!" his fists pumped the air in excitement.

"I don't know if I'd go that far, Nate"

"Oh come on dude", Nate smiled, "we are back! So what's first? He asked Ricky, still smiling "I've got to meet my girlfriend and her friends in about an hour at this little club downtown, care to join? Her friends are hot and knowing you, you'd be all over that-"

"No I wouldn't!" Ricky shot off the bench angry "I wouldn't go near her. I'm not like that anymore!" his voice boomed through the dark.

"Whoa whoa" Nate held his hands in surrender "ok man, don't get all soft on me. If you don't want to go that's fine. But what happened to you? You used to do anything with a pul-"

"Stop it! I'm not that person anymore! I will never be that person again! That's all over, alright? Ricky yelled, "I buried that bastard long ago", mumbling the last sentence so his friend couldn't hear him.

"Ok I'm sorry I clearly pulled a string here. Sit and calm down for a minute."

Ricky placed his hands on his knees as he sat back on the bench, looking out into the night once more.

"Now, are you okay? You seem way off and very agitated, a mechanism I learned to pick up quite well in juieve I might add. So what's bothering you? This isn't the Ricky I know at all. Is there something you're upset about? Come on man spill, what's going on inside that twisted head of yours."

Ricky chuckled at the 'twisted head' comment as he rubbed his sweaty palms over the dark denim of his jeans, contemplating what to tell this man who used to be his best friend.

"Best friends share secrets, that's what keeps us close"

"You did not just quote that cliché saying."

"Indeed I did. Now tell me your big secret, tell Nate what's wrong. I saw a therapist for a little bit, I bet I could help you."

"I doubt that no matter how much therapy I go through…" he popped his neck again before facing Nate "I'm only going to say this because I need to get it out in the open and I need to talk to someone about it" he swallowed hard fighting the lump that was about to form in his throat "… my fiancée she's-… she just- she just told me that she's pregnant… I'm going to be a father… again."

Nate's eye grew wide 'oh ummm yeah okay then, that explains a lot… Wait. Wait a minute, back up here. You have a fiancée? When did this happen? And did you just say again? What do you mean again?"

"One question at a time please" Ricky nodded slowly, "yes I have a fiancée. We met about 3 years ago at a summer band camp, she's a French horn player and I'm a drum-

"You have a kid?" Nate interjected You, Ricky Underwood have a child?" Ricky nodded again. "When- Where… How?"

"If I have to tell you how I have a child, then maybe we shouldn't be having this conversation" Ricky teased.

"Ha-ha very funny, you know what I mean. I just thought with what you went through as a kid; you'd never have kids, guess I was wrong."

"I'll never be like my father!" Ricky spat clearly angered again "I love my son! I'd never ever do anything to hurt him, ever!" his face was red with anger having brought up his father, his quick and fast like a bull about to charge. "My son is the greatest thing to ever happen to me…"

"I know you would never be like your father, I'm really sorry I brought that up. I think it's really great you changed your life buddy, I really do. Your son's a lucky kid to have a loving dad, we both should know that." They both exchanged smiles at each other. "But since you said your fiancée is pregnant, what are you going to do?"

"Truthfully, that's the reason I came out here- to clear my head and just think about things. Should I tell her everything is going to be fine or that I'm as terrified as she is? Should I tell her that I'm worried about how we'll make it or pretend that I have everything under control? I mean we're broke as it is! She's 18 about to start her senior year, I'm 19 about to start college and w year old, are we really ready to have another kid right now? What do I say to her? I'm new to all this all it's terrifying me!" Ricky confessed, brushing the sweat from his forehead away with the swipe of his hand.

Nate was silent for a moment before looking straight at Ricky's face, clearly sensing just how much that confession was taking out of him, he placed his palm on Ricky's shoulder. "I think you should do what your heart tells you to do. You're lucky enough to have a woman who loves you enough to put up with you; you've got one hell of a great thing my friend. If it were me, I'd get off this bench, go home, and tell her the truth, but, it's up to you." Nate removed his hand from Ricky's shoulder, shifting his feet to remove himself from the bench "I hate to leave you like this buddy but I've got a girlfriend to meet up with. Good luck." And with a wave of his lanky hand, Nate disappeared down the sidewalk into the dark night.


Amy sat on the bathroom floor; head in between her knees, as she tried to surpass the urge to throw up again- failing miserably. After her fourth round of vomiting that night, she stood, wiping her mouth with a towel and brushing the bile from her mouth before going to lie down in the comfort of their sofa bed; taking in a deep breath and drawing her knees to her chest.

The door creaks and opens lightly alerting her of his presence. Seeing his shadow on their wall, she closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep so he can't see the fresh tears making their way down her cheeks.

"Amy" Ricky whispered, seeing her body folded into itself on their bed. "Amy you awake?" His footsteps trail closer to her side of the bed, bending his head slightly to see her face; her breathing more quick than normal, a clear sign to him that she isn't really asleep. He kisses her forehead, brushing the hair behind her ear, "I know you're faking" he whispered playfully.

She stayed silent, shifting her body a little more to the right, closer to their end table.

"Fine." he shrugged "You have to wake up and talk to me eventually, I can wait. But for now..." he smirked, pulling out a long red and gold package, "I'll just have to enjoy this delicious… caramel, chocolate candy bar myself then..." he teased knowing full well she would take the bait. She sighed and rolled over; taking the chocolate bar from his hand that was awaiting her. "See I knew you'd cave, no pregnant woman- or woman in general- can resist chocolate."

Her eyes were like daggers shooting at him "Not funny." she deadpanned, clearly annoyed by his so called humor towards their situation.

His smile faded, "I got you this" his hand reaching for the small green bottle of ginger ale he bought on his way home, watching her confused expression while devouring her snack. "I'm sorry."

It was silent for a few minutes between them before Amy wiped her mouth with her hand, pressing the bottle to her lips. Her eyes had become teary as she looked at him "Ricky... do you-" she sniffled "-do you want me to get an-an a-abortion?"

Ricky's eye grew wide "What? No!" he choked out, shocked and hurt that she would even think that.

"Well then what is it? Are you...angry at me?"

"Of course I'm not angry at you! I could never be angry at you for carrying my- our- baby! It's just that... I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for walking out on you yet again, it's just... your news, or well our news I guess, just startled me" he took her hand, "but you don't have to worry about it anymore, because I'm committed to you 100% this time, anything you need. I'll be there for everything. All your doctor's appointments, if you want to go to birthing classes, we'll go, if not that's fine too, whatever you want."

She stifled a laugh, sniffling as she did. "You'd really go to a birthing class? You, Ricky Underwood, Mr. Macho himself, would actually carry a fluffy pillow and kneel like he's about to give birth...am I dreaming?"

The smile came back on his face "No you're not dreaming.'I Mr Macho himself', am here for you. Amy I'm your supporter in all of this, 100% this time, I promise." He brushed his thumb against her knuckles.

"Thank you" Amy smiled sweetly "Ricky... can I ask you something?"

"Of course"

"What did you do the night you found out I was pregnant with John?"

Ricky's expression changed from happy to shameful, "Something I'm not proud of", hanging his head as he began to speak. "I was in a panic, a dazed rage, and walked into Dr. Fields office. From there I relished all the hurt, anger and resentment into the sofa and the wall. I knew it was all my fault and I blamed myself and everything around me instead of taking responsibility for it. I'll never forgive myself for being so awful to you" he looked her in the eyes, the tears starting to gather in his, "and I don't blame you for the resentment you held against me; but know that that cowardly boy- that 16 year old child- will never hurt you like that again. I'll be here for you even when you're yelling at me to leave. Things will be different, they will. Do you... believe me?"

"Of course I believe you." Amy patted his hand that was still linked in hers, "I know that you would never leave me like this, I know you're a better man then the old you will ever be. But you're right about one thing- I resented you for getting me pregnant and I too, refused to take responsibility. It was easier to blame you for everything. But once I got to see the real you, the you who could be open and honest with me…" she exhaled deeply, "I felt something for you", taking a minute to stare at their sheets before lifting her eyes back to meet up with is. "It wasn't love exactly, but it wasn't resentment... it was more like…understanding... and I knew that you would never do anything to hurt me or John as long as you were breathing. Now when I look at you", she placed her other hand on his cheek, "I feel the love radiating from you. You're too great of a man to me and an even better one to our precious son, and I really couldn't love you any less, only more and more each day."

They smiled at each other, both filled with love and happiness. "Thank you for putting up with me Amy, I know it's not always easy" Ricky admitted.

"Thank you for putting up with me too."

"Of course, I love you, you know that?" Amy smiled kissing his lips softly before tucking herself into bed. Ricky shifted to remove his jeans and t-shirt before lying down next to her. "Ricky?"

"Hmm?"

"Are we going to be okay?" she asked quietly

"We'll be okay" he reassured her softly kissing her hair. "The four of us will be just fine."

Amy pulled his hand toward her, wrapping it around her waist to lay his hand on top of hers, both feeling the almost invisible bump that was Amy's stomach.


And this ladies and gents was the product of about 3 months' worth of intense writers block that has just been pushed through in a matter of a week, (if it sucks I'm sorry) so…did you like it? I know it wasn't nearly as much Ramy as it needed to be, but rather than writing Ricky all happy about Amy being pregnant again- which he is of course- I wanted to show a scared side of him vs having him jump up and down. What did everyone think of Nate? (If you hate him it won't hurt my feelings I promise.)