A couple weeks later (End of August):

Keith walks through the living room, frustration written all over his face. Shirley reclines on the couch, reading the newspaper.

"Mom," he fumes, "why can't we rehearse? I've got a few more songs written and I'm dyin' to hear what they sound like."

"I've told you. Laurie's on leave until after the baby's born."

Laurie walks down the stairs.

"Laurie," Keith calls, "are you up to rehearsing?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Are you sure?" Shirley questions.

"I haven't had any contractions for a couple weeks. Maybe rehearsing will get labour started. I'm ready to have this baby."

"Great!" he voices. "Hey Danny, Chris, Tracy! We're gonna rehearse in five!"

The youngest three race down the stairs.

"Mom, we'll be in the garage. You two join us in five?"

The four head to the garage, leaving the two mothers-to-be alone.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," Laurie sighs, trying to blink back tears.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I wanna have this baby!" she sobs. "I'm tired. I'm huge. I'm hot. My back hurts. It's hard to walk or move around. I look like I'm going to pop. I thought I'd have her early."

"Babies come on their own timetable."

"Greg and I have tried everything to get the baby to come, and nothing's worked."

"Everything?" she chokes.

"No, not everything. You can relax, mom," Laurie volleys, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but it's a bit hard to relax," she fires back, motioning towards her daughter's abdomen.

"Are we going to get into that again? I thought Greg and I have earned your trust back."

"The two of you have come a long way, but it'll be a long time before it's earned back all the way. Actions have consequences, you know."

"Mom, can we please not do this now? You've been on my case since I told you I was pregnant. I don't need this stress, and neither do you and your baby."

"You're right. Let's go rehearse."


The women join their family in the garage. The kids look at the pair, questioningly. Shirley shoots them a look, silencing them. "All right," Keith begins, "let's start with How Long is Too Long." He counts them off... Next, they go over Roller Coaster, and Sunshine. Shirley eyes her older daughter, checking how she's doing.

"Good!" he compliments. "Now, let's work on It's You."

"You doing okay, Laurie?"

"I'm fine."

Shirley raises an eyebrow.

"Really, mom.

"Mom," the eldest Partridge child calls, "you were early on that entrance. Let's try it from the top. Danny, the riff on the bridge was a little sloppy last time."

"Got it," the red head replies.

The baby tumbles and kicks. "Settle down, child," Shirley whispers, as she gently pats her abdomen.

"Baby kicking?" Tracy pipes.

"Like crazy," she chuckles.

Tracy walks to her mother and places her hand over the baby. "Hey little sis. You dancing to our songs? We need to rehearse. How 'bout kicking back and listening for awhile? You'll need to learn the lyrics too." The baby stops kicking.

"She knows your voice," the matriarch grins.

"She does?"

"Look. You're standing to my left and the baby's moved to my left side. Talk to her."

"Baby girl, it's Tracy. When you get older, I'll teach you how to play the tambourine."

The baby rolls underneath Tracy's hand and rests at Shirley's left side.

"Can we go ahead and rehearse?" Keith asks.

"You doing all right, Laurie?" Shirley inquires.

"I'm fine. The baby's fine too. Let's do some more."

"It's You. And one, two, three..."

At the end of rehearsal, Greg walks into the garage. Laurie looks up and winks. Keith notices. "One last run through and then it's a wrap."

Rehearsal concludes and Laurie melts into her boyfriend's arms, completing the embrace with a kiss. Keith, Danny and Chris roll their eyes, while Tracy unsuccessfully stifles a giggle.

"Okay kids," Shirley calls, "let's leave them alone." She herds the brood out.

"We're alone," Laurie smiles.

"How are you feeling?" Greg touches her abdomen. "Isn't today your due date?"

"It is."

"No contractions?"

"Nope," she smiles. "I feel really good."

"Hey Wendy! Mommy and Daddy are anxious to meet you."

Laurie giggles. "Maybe she'll be born Saturday, since it's my birthday."

"Hear that Wen? Would you like to share a birthday with mommy?" He places a gentle kiss on her lips. "That would be something. Becoming a mother on your birthday."

A wave of panic travels through her body.

"What's wrong?"

Her lip trembles and chin quivers, but she remains quiet.

"Laurie?" He puts his hands on her shoulders. "You're scaring me."

Laurie doesn't say a word.

"Hang on!" He rushes out of the garage and opens the kitchen door. "Shirley! Come quick! There's something wrong with Laurie!"

"Mom's upstairs!" Chris yells.

"Please! Go get her! Now!"

"Tracy, go get her," Chris commands.

Tracy runs upstairs to the master bedroom. Shirley's in bed reading a book. "Mom!" she pants, out of breath.

"Tracy," she quickly sits up. "What's wrong?"

"Greg said there's something wrong with Laurie."

"What?"

"I don't know!" the girl squeals. "He just told me to get you. She's in the garage."

"Help me up?"

Tracy helps her mother up. Shirley races down the stairs and into the garage, and is shocked by the scene before her.

"Laurie!" Greg chokes, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Speak to me. Please."

"Greg," she softly nudges, "let me try."

The young father-to-be nods and steps away.

"Laurie, sweetheart." Shirley starts, stroking her daughter's head, "speak to me."

Suddenly, the dam bursts, "Mom!" she cries into her mother's shoulder.

"Oh, baby!" Shirley soothes, holding her daughter close, rubbing her back.

"I'm going to be a mother at seventeen. I'm not ready to be a mother."

"Well, ready or not, you're about to become a mother."

Greg looks pained, feeling powerless over the situation.

"Mom, I'm scared."

Shirley's back spasms and her arms strain due to the women's midsections being too large for them to embrace comfortably. "Laurie, do you think you can walk?"

She nods.

"Greg?"

He puts his arm around his girlfriend and guides her into the kitchen. Shirley leads. "Stay there for a sec." She walks into the living room. Chris is watching TV on the couch. "Chris, can you watch that upstairs, please?"

He nods, shuts off the television and goes upstairs. Greg walks Laurie into the living room and helps her sit on the couch. Shirley sits beside her, taking her into her arms. Greg sits in the easy chair, fighting the tears threatening to escape.

"This has been so hard on you, hasn't it?" the matriarch starts, empathetic.

"Uh huh."

"And facing motherhood is scary."

"I'm only almost seventeen. I'm too young to be a mother."

Greg hangs his head.

"I don't want to do this!" Laurie cries. "Mommy, please don't make me do this!"

Greg silently cries.

"I'm sorry," Shirley states, "but this is going to happen. I can't stop this. I can't kiss it and make it better. I wish I could, but I can't."

Laurie cries harder. "I made a mistake! I don't want to do this!"

Keith walks into the living room and is stunned. Shirley looks at her eldest son, and mouths, "not now." He nods and goes upstairs. Then, she focuses on her daughter. "Listen," she begins, firm, "you can do this. You will do this. You will not abandon your child like Richard has done."

"But it was a mistake!" Laurie protests.

Shirley shifts, looking into her eyes, "Yes, you and Greg made a mistake. Richard and I also made a mistake. Now, both of us are pregnant. We will both have babies in the near future." She places Laurie's hand on her abdomen, and places her hand on Laurie's. "These babies need us. They're our children. You and Greg have been taking responsibility for your child, and you will continue to do so. I'm taking responsibility for my child. Unfortunately, Dick decided he didn't want to be a father and he signed his rights away. That's going to have lasting consequences for him, me, and our baby. I won't let you do that to your child."

Greg looks at Shirley, who nods. He moves to the couch and takes his girlfriend into his arms. "I'm not leaving you or the baby. You hear me? I'm not walking away like he did." Shirley swallows the lump in her throat.

"Promise?" Laurie whispers.

"I promise. I love you!"

"I love you too." Her breathing slows down and she relaxes. "Mom, I'm tired."

"Do you need to go to bed?" Shirley asks.

The young mother-to-be nods.

"Greg?"

"I've got you." He helps Laurie off the couch and walks her to her bedroom.

"Greg," Shirley calls softly, "I'll make an exception for now."

Laurie crawls into bed, without saying a word.

"An exception?"

"She needs you right now, and I'll allow you to be in bed with her if you promise that nothing inappropriate will happen."

"You've got my word, Mrs. Partridge."

"I'll hold you to it," she replies, as she leaves the room.

Greg slips in bed behind his beloved, wraps his arms around her and pulls the covers around them. Laurie snuggles into his embrace. Sleep immediately overtakes them.