A/N: So I'm still torn on whether or not Cate and Baze should keep the baby! Thoughts? At least this chapter cancelled out one option... :)

Chapter 9- Weeks Go By Like Days

Cate didn't know whether to be relieved or even more terrified. By the time she was 18 weeks into the pregnancy, she still hadn't decided whether or not to have the baby, yet she knew that from the eighteenth week, it wasn't possible to terminate the pregnancy legally.

Cate placed a hand on the small baby bump that was forming, leaning back against her bed head and slowly closing her eyes.

She was fast asleep when the doorbell rang and reluctantly trudged downstairs to open it. She strongly considered ignoring it; Laverne was out with her newest potential husband while Abby was at a sleepover for the night.

Cate couldn't help but be surprised when she saw Baze smiling on the other side. Sure, they had hung out occasionally over the last few months and they silently acknowledged each other at school, but it was Saturday night and there was a big party on that Cate was sure he would be at.

"Hey." Baze smiled.

Cate smiled back confused. "Hi... What are you doing here?"

"I thought we could hang out." Baze shrugged casually.

Cate looked both hesitant and confused. "Why aren't you at the party?"

Again, Baze shrugged. "I wanted to spend some time with you instead."

Cate couldn't help but smile, blushing slightly. "Do you want to come in?"

Baze smiled at her, slightly mischievous. "Have you eaten?" Cate shook her head slowly, confused. He smiled and took her hand. "Come on."

Cate couldn't help but be glad that she had been too tired to change out of the clothes she was wearing earlier in the day. She had spent the day shopping with Laverne for an outfit for her date, and was glad she was wearing jeans and a sweater rather than sweatpants.

Baze led her to his mom's minivan, opening the passenger side door first to let Cate in before getting in the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" Cate asked in confusion, her mood significantly happier.

Baze smiled at her, flipping his attention between Cate and the road. "It's a surprise."

Cate couldn't help but smile and lean back in the seat, relaxing as she absentmindedly placed a hand on her stomach. She didn't know whether to laugh or be horrified when Baze pushed in a cassette into the cassette player and the Spin Doctors started playing.

Baze smirked at her, noticing her expression. "What?" He joked. "I know you like them."

They pulled up in a deserted car park overlooking the city and Cate hesitantly accepted Baze's offered hand and allowed him to help her out of the car. "You're not going kill me and dump my body are you?" She asked sarcastically.

"Ha ha." Baze lead her around to the back of the car, opening the trunk.

Cate didn't know what to say. Baze had put down the backseat to make room for a picnic blanket, and he smiled as he climbed in and held out his hand towards her. Cate accepted it and allowed Baze to pull her through the open back doors, taking a seat as he opened a picnic basket.

"I talked to your sister." He handed her a hoagie. "Got your favorite."

"Abby helped you?" Cate asked surprised. She and Abby had barely muttered two words to each other since Abby had found out she was pregnant.

Baze nodded, smiling as he watched her reaction. "She's the one who suggested I take you out in the first place."

"This is really sweet, Baze." Cate looked at him seriously, smiling. "Thank you."

Baze smiled, both of them eating silently for a few moments. "So how are you? I mean, how's..."

He trailed off nervously, nodding toward Cate's stomach. Cate smiled despite herself, instinctively placing a hand on her stomach. "I'm okay. We're okay."

Baze nodded, smiling slightly as he absentmindedly reached across to put his hand next to Cate. Normally Cate would have been freaked out at the contact, but for some reason, it didn't feel awkward at all.

"Do you know what you want to do yet?" From his expression, Baze was clearly dying to know.

Cate drew in a deep breath and pasted on a smile, shrugging nervously. "Well I'm having it."

Baze looked both surprised and terrified, and Cate couldn't help but smile as she noticed a flash of relief cross his features. "You're having it?"

"Uh huh." Cate bit her lip and looked down at her food, shrugging nervously. "Yeah, well, I mean, you can't terminate the pregnancy after eighteen weeks, and well, I'm eighteen weeks, so I guess... I'm having it."

Baze couldn't help but smile slightly. "Are you okay with that?"

Cate looked up, surprised at his concern and smiled slightly. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" She asked rhetorically before looking down again.

Baze hesitated for a few moments before breaking the silence. "Do you want to go out with me?"

Cate looked up surprised, raising an eyebrow and smirking slightly as she looked around. "We're already out..."

Baze smirked slightly, despite the fact that she was mocking him. "No, I mean like 'out' out. On a date out." He rubbed his hair awkwardly; despite the fact that he had asked out hundreds of girls before, he had never worried this much about getting turned down.

"Why would you want to go out with me?" Cate had to ask. It wasn't as if she was really his type.

Baze shrugged, smirking, slightly amused at the questions. "Well we've done everything else."

"Hey!" Cate laughed slightly, throwing a piece of bread at him jokingly.

Baze laughed, shifting a little closer to Cate. "I like you, Cate, and that's not just because you're having my baby." He started seriously. "I mean, doesn't this baby deserve a chance to grow up with his parents together?"

Cate laughed, raising an eyebrow. "His?"

"Nate Jr." Baze smirked, nodding. "Or Bobby Layne Bazile but that's still open for discussion."

Cate smiled, but the pain and fear was clear in her eyes. "I still don't know if I want to keep it." She warned nervously.

Baze nodded and smiled comfortingly. "And whatever you choose, I'll be there. But that doesn't mean we can't try anyway, right?"

"Okay." Cate nodded and her face broke into a small but sincere smile as she met Baze's gaze.