Chapter Nine
Disclaimer: I do not own the Animorphs. Don't Sue. Thanks!
(Crayak)
I stared into the void. It was time for the first move.
AWAKEN. EDRISS.
The Yeerk, that most noble Yeerk, started to materialize, with so much force that the void itself gave the perception of moving.
Then, she returned to me.
She seemed surprised.
Master, where am I? How am I alive?
EDRISS, DO NOT BE BOTHERED WITH THAT RIGHT NOW. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE. YOU AND ESPLIN. I WILL INSTRUCT YOU ON THE SPECIFICS, BUT RIGHT NOW, I NEED YOU TO ACCOMPANY DRODE TO THE CAPITAL OF THAT DESPICABLE NATION, WASHINGTON D.C. . FROM THERE, HE WILL GIVE YOU A TARGET, ALONG WITH A PORTABLE KANDRONA.
But why, master? Why? I thought the game was lost!!
ESPLIN, YOU SHOULD KNOW AS WELL AS ANYONE, THAT THE FUTURE HAS MANY POSSIBLE OUTCOMES. THIS TIME, IF WE WIN, IT WILL BE PERMANENTLY IN OUR FAVOR. DRODE!
I yelled for that semi-competent brute. Sometimes I do not know why I keep that prune around.
Yes master?It materialized in front of me.
THE PLAN IS READY TO COMMENCE. TAKE THE FORM OF THAT WHICH WILL CAPTURE EDRISS'S HOST.
Drode pulled a morphing act himself, changing his prune-like body into the form familiar with most.
The director of the FBI of the United States of America.
EDRISS, ARE YOU READY?
Yes, Master. I am willing to do whatever you ask.
THEN INFEST DRODE. I WILL TRANSPORT THE BOTH OF YOU BACK TO EARTH, WHERE YOU WILL INFEST THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. THEN, YOU WILL FREE ESPLIN AND USE HIM TO INFEST THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA. I NEED YOU THREE TO DISRUPT THE LIVES OF THE REMAINING ANIMORPHS ON EARTH. I WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
Drode followed my directions and inserted Edriss into its brain.
THERE IS A PORTABLE KANDRONA IN ESPLIN'S CELL. MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE NOTICES YOUR PLAN AT ALL.
Then I watched my last hope, my best hope for taking control of the present.
Now I needed to manipulate the past.
You know, Drode, this is all your fault. We would have won if you hadn't been so damn focused on exterminating the leader of those humans, Jacob Edriss was complaining in Drode's ear. Silly Minios. Did they really think I could not hear their thoughts?
Ha! And if you had told Esplin that they were really human children in the first place, this series of episodes- Drode retorted.
Oh, so everything is now my fault? Edriss was shocked.
Yes,
HA!
Quiet, Edriss, your host has arrived.
The Secretary of State walked in and sat down. She was a pretty woman, with light brown skin and curly brown hair.
"Hi, Madam Secretary." Drode was doing a very good impression, I had to admit.
"Hello Mr. Smith. What did you want to go over today?"
"Oh, just my plan to take over the universe, Karen."
The human's mouth dropped, but then Drode worked its magic.
I watched with pride as Drode captured the worthless human in a bear hug, and Edriss slid out of Drode and into the Secretary's ear.
That's why I keep it around!
The host formerly known as Karen stood up, blinked twice, and smiled.
"It feels nice to have a body again."
"Doesn't it, Edriss?"
"Where is Esplin, Drode?"
"In the state the Humans call 'Kansas'. He is under high survelliance, especially for the humans. I'm personally impressed. Hence the disguises. They think we're going to interrogate him."
Drode took her hand, and I watched them move along the universe to Esplin's prison.
The idiot soldiers did not question their human disguises and let them through. They met with the head of the Central Intelligence Agency and were escorted to Esplin's special holding cell.
Then Drode acted swiftly.
He injected the director with a knock-out drug. Then, by sheer force of will, opened the purple box Esplin was encased in, without setting off the alarm. Then he inserted Esplin into the weak human' s brain.
Esplin immediately took control. I watched his host stand up, and stare at Edriss's host.
"Esplin?" She said after a moment?
"Edriss?" He marveled...
(Rae)
I opened my eyes. Everything was blurry, so I tried to focus.
The smell of Lysol stunk through the air. My vision became a bit better. I could see the flourescent lights raining their harsh light from the ceiling.
"Rae, oh Rachel, you woke up!" A worried voice said from the right. "Steve, she's awake!"
"Huh?" I was confused. As my vision cleared, I saw Grandma Jean holding my hand.
"Oh, don't you worry Rachel, your Grandpa is off talking to the doctor on call. They'll fix you up,"
My eyes widened and I looked down. I was not wearing any clothes, only the blue hospital jammies they give everyone.
"How did I end up here?" I wondered. "I was just at-"
"The house? Rachel, you passed out on our front step covered in blood!" Grandma brushed back strands of her gray hair and her face filled with worry. I could even see the fine lines around her eyes.
"And it's very lucky you came to us, sweetheart," Grandpa walked in with another doctor. "How are you feeling, honey?"
"I'm ok...OUCH!" My left arm was throbbing. I reached down to touch it, but it was covered in a hot pink cast.
"Your wrist is broken. And you might not want to look at your leg, We had to stitch that up as well. It was a pretty serious contusion. You lost a lot of blood. You're lucky your grandfather is a doctor. He saved your life. " The other doctor told me in a very serious voice.
I pushed down the thin blanket and peered anyway. Ugh. It did look horrible. Like there was a bunch of wires keeping my leg together.
"Your Grandfather explained to me what happened after you arrived at his house, but can you tell me what happened before?"
I shut my eyes.
I saw bits, pieces, flashes.
The party. The tiger chasing Derrick. The argument with my parents. Biking during the storm. The truck. Then, nothing.
"I can't really remember. There was this party...and then Mom and Dad...we got into it,"
"By got into it, did you have a fight?"
I nodded.
"Rachel, did they do this to you? Did they touch you?" Grandma put a hand to her mouth.
"If they did, there's nothing to worry about. Everything you tell me is confidential." The doctor said.
"I...I...they kept yelling at me...but I ran off. Dad couldn't chase me. The last thing I remember is a being on my bike, and then there was the truck-"
"Rae, follow my finger with your eyes." Grandpa said, holding up a pen.
When he was finished, the other doctor spoke.
"Yeah, it looks like you have a concussion too. Rachel. You're going to need to stay overnight for observation. But I'm more concerned with your parents. Steve, maybe I should call them."
"Not a problem," his pager rang. "They just arrived, actually."
Mom rushed into the room. Her eyes were beet red and her clothes soaking wet.
"Rae!"
Her jaw dropped.
"On no! My baby!" She ran over to me and wrapped me in a hug.
"Owww!" I protested.
"Rae we were so worried. As soon as you ran off, we tried to follow you, but then we came upon the truck...and when I saw your bike...I just lost it!" I felt her sob. "I thought you died!"
The sturdy sound of a wheelchair rolled onto the linoleum floor.
Dad was here.
I looked at his face. He still looked angry, but I could see lines of worry. Like Grandma's.
"How is she?" He asked the other doctor.
"Well, her leg injury was pretty serious Mr. Berenson, but she's going to be all right. She's had a slight concussion, and a broken wrist, but from what she was saying, it could be a lot worse. I was telling your father that I think she should stay overnight for observation-"
"Excuse me doctor, but instead of talking to my father about my daughter, next time talk to me, directly."
Grandpa started to say something, but the doctor cut him off.
"Well, actually, Mr. Berenson. There IS something I want to discuss with you and your wife. Please follow me down the hall."
Grandma squeezed my hand.
"Rest sweetie,"
I followed her advice and went back to sleep.
The next day, they released me from the hospital. Grandma helped me get dressed, while Mom helped me get in Dad's truck.. I guess they had all been waiting with me all night.
"Steve, we'll take it from here. Thank you for everything."
Grandpa kissed my cheek.
"Stay a good girl, Rachel."
Dad rolled his good eye and started on the drive off. There was a lot of paparazzi everywhere, but the cops did a good job keeping them away.
The drive back was very quiet. All the events of last night didn't hit me until we passed by where the accident. Seeing the burnt out shell of the truck caused a sharp pain in my head.
I squinted my eyes shut.
Luckily my parents couldn't see anything from the front seats.
When we pulled up to the house, Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop were waiting outside. It was EARLY but I bet Tommy and Melissa were watching Saturday Morning cartoons on TV. Pop-Pop came up to the car as we parked.
"Goodness, Child, you scared me half to death."
Instantly I thought about his heart condition.
"I'm sorry Pop-Pop," I said softly.
"Here, take my hand. Your Mom told me you injured your leg."
"Thanks," He helped me out and carried me up to my room.
"Now, don't try any more dissapearing acts," He shut the door for some privacy.
I smiled and leaned my head back against the pillow. Pop-Pop was such a jokester. But a headache was starting to come on strong.
"Nnngh," I muttered.
I heard a knock on the door.
Mom came through the door, holding a tray.
"Rachel, are you awake?"
"Yeah Mom."
She opened my door. There was a tray with a teapot and oatmeal...
"Here. It's herbal. No caffeine for you. I also brought up some oatmeal for you to eat. There's two Tylenol, take them and I'll be back in a few hours with two more."
She pulled away my chair from my desk and sat next to my bed.
"Mom, I'm sorry-" I tried to apologize.
"Shh. Rae. You need to rest."
"Are you still mad at me?" I looked up at her.
"Yes. But, I-I think we need to talk about some things," she admitted.
"If it's about the barn, I swear, I'll clean it-"
"No. It's about something else. The nurse in the hospital told me that you got your period last night, along with everyone else."
I could feel my face flush red.
"You know, Mom, that's what health class is for-"
"You're becoming a woman, Rachel, and there will be serious consequences if you make the wrong choices." She interrupted me.
"Like you did?"
Mom sighed.
"It's not what you think Rae. I never let you read your father's book because I thought you were too young to understand what went on between us. But now I think you need to know the truth. The whole truth, not just your father's side."
13 years ago...
Cassie kissed Ronnie on the cheek. "Have fun at the Lakers-Kings game tonight."
"I''ll be back by tomorrow. L.A. will be too rough a ride to do on one night."
Ronnie kissed her back, and grabbed the keys to his Escalade parked outside. She hadn't been successful in getting Ronnie to ditch his gas-guzzler, but he had been supportive of her in every single way. He was almost like Jake……
She shook her head. No one could ever be like Jake. At least, not the way he was before the valley. Cassie locked the door and made her way down the hall to her master bedroom.
I need a shower. A nice long one.
She stepped into the shower and tried to clear her mind. Today, while Ronnie and she were hiking. Jake stopped by to get the coordinates to Tobias''s valley. Poor Ax had been captured, and Jake was going to lead a rescue mission. But he wouldn't allow her to go.
Stay on Earth, live your life. She repeated those words over and over in her head. She did have a nice life. A top selling book, a great fiancee in Ronnie, endorsements with L.L. Bean and Roquefort, a beautiful house in Berkeley...but...
She cut the water off and slipped out of the shower, into her robe and slippers. And as if someone could read her mind, she saw a Peregrine Falcon fly by her window.
"It can't be…" she thought to herself.
She heard a rap on her door about a minute later.
Don't open it. A little voice in the back of her head quipped. She ignored it and went for the doorknob.
Jake was standing at the threshold.
"Hi," Jake said sheepishly.
"Jake, what are you doing here?" Cassie said, a little surprised. By the way he was acting earlier today, she expected him to be gone by this point in time.
"I uh, I came to say, goodbye...We won''t be leaving until tomorrow..."
Now Cassie was starting to get mad. Not a word from this boy in almost a year, and now he wants to come in and talk?
"So? I'm going to go back to living my life. That''s what you told me to do, Fearless Leader. So you go and play hero. I''m going to live."
She started to close the door. Jake stood in the way, preventing her from doing so.
Cassie had made him mad. Furious. Nah, he was more than furious. He was pissed off. Cassie made him feel like dirt. All he wanted to do was say goodbye. He probably would never see her again, and she was this cold to him? Heh. If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't be in this situation. Tom...and Rachel... Goddamn her! She really was a bitch sometimes! But, in a strange way, that REALLY turned him on...
"Why do you make me feel like this?" he yelled.
"Jake, just go," She turned to leave.
"Don''t you walk away from me," he growled, grabbing her arm with power.
"Stop! Let me go!"
She was pinned to the now-closed door by him.
"What the hell, you arrogant son of a-"
She was cut off but one of the most passionate kisses she had ever experienced.
"Oh Jake……" she moaned when she was finally able to catch her breath, "Do it again," as she kissed him back, with all of the emotion that he had kissed her with.
All the years of anger, pain and frustration came out as they tore at each other's clothes on the way to her bedroom. When they finally got there, pretty soon, he was planting kisses all over her face. Then he stopped. Jake looked into her eyes. Her beautiful, warm, brown eyes. They made him want to melt into the bed.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked sincerely while planting kisses all over her face.
Cassie kissed him, and took her engagement ring off her finger.
"I can't go back to him. Not after this." She placed it on the nightstand.
Jake took the time out to stroke her hair. Her face had this ethereal glow. It only highlighted her beauty.
"Jake, that was...it was..."
"Shh. You don't have to say a word." he hugged her close to him. God! He wished this moment could last forever.
"Jake, that was..."
He kissed her silent.
"You don't have to say a word."
"Just promise me this. Whatever happens next-" She rubbed his cheek.
"Whatever happens next, I'll always be there for you,"
She closed he eyes and leaned into his chest.
"Promise?"
"Promise,"
But they both forgot about the box of condoms in the dresser drawer.
The first rays of sunshine flittered into Cassie's bedroom. "Mmmhm," Cassie turned over and awoke in her bed. She felt for Jake. They had such a wonderful night last night. She knew she couldn't go back to Ronnie. She just couldn't. Jake and she had such a history together. And the sex!
That alone is enough to make me dump Ronnie. Jake was even a gentleman with it!
She got a surprise when she felt for the other side of the bed.
He wasn't there.
She blinked her eyes.
The bed was tussled, and her robe was near the door, but she was the only one there.
"Jake?" she got up and looked around the bedroom.
She didn't hear anyone.
Cassie gathered her robe and tied it around herself. She checked the bathroom, the living room, and the family room.
No Jake.
She stomped back to her room, FURIOUS.
She couldn't believe she let Jake PLAY her like that. She actually believed everything he was saying last night, that he was going to 'be' with her, that they could have a life.
I should have known. Jake could never be 'my' Jake again.
When she got back to the room, she noticed something she hadn't seen before.
There was a note.
Cassie,
I'm Sorry.
-J
She picked the note up and threw it against the bed. Then she started to feel sick.
Great. Just as my day couldn't get any worse... she thought as she hurled last night's dinner into the toilet.
When she was done, she slumped against the sink.
How could he do this to me?
3 weeks later...
"Hey Ron, can you pick up some more bananas at the market today? I really want a peanut butter, banana, and pickle sandwich for lunch," Cassie asked Ronnie as she was checking the contents of the fridge.
"Uh, sure, no problem. But that's a weird combo. Are you feeling well?" He came over to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She gave him a half-smile. "You just don't be late for work."
"I won't." He kissed her cheek. She pulled away a bit. Ever since her night with Jake...she felt so, so...wrong being around Ronnie. If he ever knew what she did to her, he'd be devastated. And Ronnie didn't deserve that.
"So, call me when you get into work?" He asked.
"Yeah, definitely."
"Bye sweetie, luv ya," he grabbed an apple and headed out of the house to the office.
Finally...
Cassie ran back upstairs to the bathroom, where she left the pregnancy test on the counter.
The window showed a plus sign.
She dropped it in the trash.
No, it can't be.
She went over to the telephone in her room and picked up the receiver.
She had her doctor on speed-dial.
"Hello? Dr. Williams office."
"Hi, this is Cassie Branch, I just wanted to know if those results were in...great! I'll be right there."
Cassie put the phone back and went outside, hopped into her car and sped towards the doctor's office, ignoring many speeding laws on the way.
Thankfully, she didn't get pulled over as she pulled into the office. Cassie sped towards the desk and waited, ignoring all of the people who saw her only as Cassie, the celebrity, the Animorph.
Finally the doctor came outside and called her name. Cassie absentmindedly followed the clack of her high-heels. She had Texas-style blond hair with some white.
Cassie went into the examination room and sat down.
"Well, I have some great news for you. Your STD screening came back completely negative. But something else didn't," Dr. Williams handed her back some paperwork.
Cassie gripped the side of the examination table as she read the results.
"Congratulations! You're pregnant!"
Oh no...
The doctor kept on moving her lips excitedly, but Cassie couldn't hear any of it.
She was terrified.
After the doctor confirmed her pregnancy, she walked out of that doctor's room and drove home in a trance.
Ronnie and she hadn't touched each other in at least two months. There was no one else this baby could belong to. It had to be Jake's.
That son of a bitch...
She started looking for her suitcases.
She needed some comfort. And not from Ronnie. In an angry blur, she started throwing clothes into suitcases and gathering her personal effects, booking flights. Calling the office. She had to get out of here.
Finally, her cell phone rang on the bed. She checked the caller ID. It was her Mother.
"Cassie, sweetheart, I was in surgery. What's wrong? Is everything okay up there?" Alisha sounded worried.
"Mom, I need to come home." Cassie almost broke down right then and there.
"Anytime, honey. What's wrong?"
'I'll tell you when I get there." She hung up the phone. and looked at herself in the mirror. She definitely had that 'pregnancy glow' everyone was talking about. But her body hurt everywhere. Her breasts were tender, and her hair had gray in it!
I need to tell him, I can't go on with him.
She spent the next few hours flipping through tv channels aimlessly. Then she saw Ronnie walking in the bedroom out of the corner of her eye.
"Babe, I got the pickles you wanted, they're in the fridge. What's wrong?"
He walked over to her.
"Ron," she bit her lip. "Look, I need to tell you something,"
She got up from the bed and touched his cheek. It was rough, maybe because he didn't shave last night.
"Look, I appreciate everything you've done for me. Ever since the beginning, after the trial, you've been my rock. But...I think I need some space...from you...from this. I'm only seventeen...I'm not sure if I'm ready for a marriage..."
"But Cassie,"
"Listen Ron, this has more to do with me than you."
Jake was right.
"I just need to live my life, find myself. And after that happens, we can take it from there."
She kissed his cheek.
"I'm sorry."
She proceeded to move her things out of the house and into her car , with neither of them saying a word.
"Call me when you get in?" he asked.
She nodded silently and could do nothing but drive off. If she looked back, she might say something she'd regret.
She got to the airport, and got the first flight back home, down to Southern California. They were so nice at the airport, they were going to fly her car down for free.
The perks of being a celebrity. But I just want to be left alone.
The flight attendant distracted her by offering her some free champagne. She declined.
I suppose you shouldn't drink as an underage mother.
She stared out the window. The clouds were so beautiful. It was like the angels were knitting them.
I wonder if Rachel is there, if she can see me. She'd be so happy for me...but then I'd never hear the end of it from her for having unprotected sex.
And how was she going to break this to her parents? They'd be furious. Even though she was a world hero, she was still their little girl.
Her stomach was jostling just like the airplane when it made its descent.
She could see familiar landmarks as they circled in for landing. The Tower...the destroyed Gardens.
A sense of peace came over her.
Maybe I CAN do this.
She waited for the plane to taxi and for everyone to get off. There were some paparazzi there, but airport security did their best to keep them and the crowds away. She had a police escort down to the luggage carousel.
Two familiar faces welcomed her.
Her parents.
"Mom! Dad!"
She ran over to them.
"There's my baby!" He dad picked her up."We've missed you so much! You have to tell us how everything is going!"
Her Mom had the police escort pick up her things and put them into John's truck.
Cassie filled her parents in on her job and her endorsements as they drove back to the farm. She was going to save the bombshell for when they got back to the house.
They'll kill me.
Her father pulled down that familiar country road, and Cassie saw the old familiar structures of her land.
Her house, practically the fourth family member.
And the clinic, never in need of money again thanks to Cassie's endorsement and financial gifts to her father.
With the Gardens under reconstruction, her mom and dad were both working full time at the clinic, and enjoying a return to a semi-normal life.
"Cassie, honey, we're here. Your Dad'll take your things into the house." Her Mom drove home the point.
After we got settled, Mom put on some tea and I poured a cup. Herbal. Just what I needed.
"So, how's Ronnie?" John asked.
I almost spit the tea out onto my business suit.
"We didn't mean to startle you, we...just noticed that he's not here with you. You two used to be inseperable." he continued.
"And, you're not wearing your engagement ring."Alisha softened her tone. "What's going on?"
Cassie swallowed and put her teacup down.
It's now or never.
"It happened...almost a month ago. Jake...he came to visit me before he left. Ronnie was with me in the park the first time...but the second time, he came to the house. And I was alone...we..."
She felt tears come to her eyes.
"We made love that night. Repeatedly. And When I woke up, he was gone." She looked out the window. "I have not seen or heard from him since. It's like he disappeared off the face of the Earth."
"Cassie..." Her Mom's voice dripped with disappointment.
"That's not the worst part Mom...I started feeling sick soon after. I went to the doctor..." She couldn't stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks. "When I found out, I broke up with Ronnie immediately. I couldn't let him know..."
She took a deep breath.
"I'm pregnant."
Her dad paused, then got up slowly. John walked outside and started VENTING! Even the birds started to fly away he was so loud!
"That little punk! I swear if I see that white boy again, I'll kill him for knocking up my baby girl!"
Then he walked back into the living room and sat down.
"Cassie, how could this happen? I always told you to wait until you were ready to have sex, and even then, you ALWAYS have to use protection. Otherwise, things like THIS can happen!"
"They weren't thinking. That's the problem. I knew that boy just wanted to get into your pants. Even when he was younger. He was always over here, 'helping' you in the barn. We SHOULD have called Father Banion to talk to you two," He shook his head and put his hands on his forehead.
"John! For goodness sake!" She turned to Cassie. "What's done is done. You can't go back and change the past. When you and Jake decided to become intimate together, the two of you became responsible for the consequences of you actions. And I know you are hurting. I can see it in your face. But it is ultimately up to you to decide how you are going to handle this."
She looked into her mother's eyes. She saw disappointment, a LOT of disappointment. But she also saw concern. And pain.
"I don't know what I'm going to do Mom, I just don't know,"
The next week, she woke up in her old bed and looked out the window. The cornfields beckoned her. They were so gorgeous. Endless lines of green stalks as far as the eye could see.
Sometimes, when she thought about the pain of the war...she would look at the land...and understand the sacrifice. That's why she had to do this. She couldn't have this baby. Not now.
It had been a month. No one had heard from Jake, Marco, or the students they took into space. No humans, no Andalites. No one.
I can't let it grow up never knowing its father. I can't do this alone.
Her appointment with Planned Parenthood was in an hour. She planned the appointment in secret. Even though her parents were not the most devout Catholics, they would never happily agree to an abortion. She took some old overalls and a T-Shirt out of her dresser and walked down to the bathroom.
As the water from the shower overtook her, she couldn't help but feel pangs of doubt. As she dried her hair, her tears started to fall again.
Damnit! Her emotions were all over the place! She had never felt like this! She slid down to the floor and let it all come out.
She couldn't be the only one left. The sole survivor. The last Animorph.
Pregnancy hormones or not, she couldn't bring herself to leave the room. She stayed, sobbing silently.
Knock Knock.
Her Mom opened the door.
"Cassie, it's almost noon. You've been in here for two hours." She gathered a towel from the back of the door.
"Here, this old bathroom is drafty." She placed it over her daughter's naked body.
Cassie didn't say thanks. All she could do is lean her head onto her mother's body.
"How can I raise a baby...when I'm the only one left..."
"Is that what you think? That you'll be alone, raising this child?"
"Mom, they're gone. All of them."
"You don't know that-" Alisha started to say.
"I just have this feeling..." Cassie's cries started again.
Alisha hugged her daughter to her.
" You have us, baby! This isn't like the war! You aren't alone anymore."
"So you're not mad?" She started sniffing.
"I didn't say that. Cassie...I always thought I raised you right, to respect yourself and your body. Even when I found out about all of this...the war...I was so proud that you never used it as an excuse to destroy your morals. I still can't believe that the two of you went off and did this. But I would never abandon you. Your father and I, if you choose to keep this baby, will be behind you one hundred percent."
Cassie took her mother's hand.
Maybe with their strength, she could continue with the pregnancy.
Present-Day
(Rae)
"Wait, so you didn't even go to the clinic?"
"No, I never did. I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't even leave the house."
Warm feelings flowed over my body.
"So...you wanted me after all."
"Sweetheart, how could you think any differently? You have to understand, I was going to be a teenage mom, with no father around to help me. All of my closest friends were dead, and I..I didn't feel that I could really trust anyone else, that my parents wouldn't want to help. Luckily, I was wrong."
"But what about Dad's parents?"
"Oh, they had a whole other reaction..."
