"Well seems RJ here caught himself a little virus. Other than that he's just fine," Dr. Cater stated. "Just keep doing what you're doing. Give him Tylenol when he needs it and make sure he is drinking plenty of fluids. If he doesn't want formula try giving him a little bit of water. Some babies love that when they don't feel good."

"I never should have taken him dress shopping. No one at home was sick so he had to have gotten it then." Lilly started beating herself up.

"It's not your fault. He could have gotten it easily from anywhere," Jackson reassured her.

"He's right. Babies, especially preemies are more susceptible to germs so it could have come from anywhere without anyone else getting sick." The doctor paused letting this sink in. "Since you're here anyway I just went ahead and checked him over, since you had his six week check up scheduled for tomorrow anyway. That way you don't have to come back."

They sat with the doctor for a few more minutes discussing his progress and how he was doing. They thanked the doctor and made their way out to the car just as RJ voiced his hunger. As usual Lilly sat in the back seat next to his car seat and held his bottle so he could drink on the way home.

By the time they got home RJ had finished his bottle and slipped into a much needed nap. Gently carrying him inside, Lilly took him upstairs and buckled him into the swing. Turning it on she heard the music begin to play as it swayed back and forth.

All the emotions of the last few days began to pile themselves on top of each other until she felt she was at the breaking point. Rushing down the stairs she spoke quickly asking Jackson to keep on eye on RJ and ran out the door.

Jackson sat on the couch stunned. He couldn't believe Lilly just took off like that. He had never known her to be so rash. She looked so upset and he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't even take off after her. No one else was home and he wasn't about to disrupt RJ's nap. He would just have to wait for her to come home. Lying back on the couch he planned to do just that.


The shrill crying through the baby monitor awoke Jackson to the realization he had fallen asleep. Gathering his bearings he walked upstairs to calm his crying son. The boy felt hot and he wondered if it was time for more Tylenol. Lilly had been taking care of all that so he had no clue.

Grabbing the small bottle out of the diaper bag he turned it around trying to read the directions. Figuring it was safe to give him some more he tried to figure out how to hold and calm the baby all the while trying to measure out the right amount. It wasn't easy but he finally managed to get some of it in the little one's mouth.

Next thing on the list was getting a bottle. Seeing there were no premade ones in the fridge, he found himself once again reading the directions and trying to understand them. After about ten minutes he finally was able to sit on the couch while RJ ate.

He realized this was the first time he had ever been left alone with RJ. From the moment they had brought him home, Lilly had been there every second. She made everything look so easy but now he understood how much work she did everyday. She truly was amazing and deserved some much needed praise.

When he heard the door start to open he turned hoping it was Lilly. She had been gone almost three hours and he was starting to worry. Instead Miley and Oliver walked in the door laughing and giggling with each other.

The two continued talking as if they were the only two people in the room until RJ let out a loud burp, clueing them into the fact that there was someone else in the room. "Hey Jackson, where's Lilly?" Miley asked.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Miley looked as if she was about to rip her brother's head off if he didn't explain quickly.

"She took off about three hours ago and I haven't heard from her since. I tried her phone but she didn't answer." Which was the truth as soon as he realized how much he had taken her for granted he had grabbed the phone hoping she'd pick up. He didn't know whether to be more worried or upset when she didn't answer. He wanted to go look for her but he didn't want to drag RJ all over and he didn't have a clue where to start.

After explaining everything to his sister he said, "I should go look for her."

"No!" Miley protested. She held a stance that clearly said she wasn't to be messed with. "You need to stay here and take care of RJ just like she asked you too. Besides I have a much better chance of finding her. After all I know all her haunts." And with that she was out the door leaving a confused Oliver and a worried Jackson behind.


Lilly walked the streets aimlessly for what seemed hours. At one point she found herself standing in front of her old house. She thought maybe she could talk to her mom but she couldn't bring herself to go to the door. She hadn't stepped foot in that door for more than nine months and she couldn't see herself do so now. At least not until she was on better terms with her dad as well.

Finally she found herself on a small patch of beach where Miley, Oliver, and her used to hang out in junior high. She felt her phone vibrating before she heard it ringing. The screen stated it was Jackson calling and she wasn't ready to talk to him so she ignored it, setting it aside. Instead she watched the waves roll in trying to block her mind from anything but the memories of those years not so long ago.

Every once in a while one of them would spontaneously run into the water starting a race between the three. The first one to the sand bar that sat about a quarter of a mile out was the winner.

It was this thought that pushed Lilly to get up and jump into the water. She quickly began swimming her heart. She reached the sand and sat facing toward the large expanse of water and got lost in her thoughts once again.

Miley had spotted Lilly swimming out when she had made it to the half way point. Either she would have to wait for Lilly to come back, or she could follow her out. Thinking it might be fun, she took off after her friend. Sitting down beside her, she put an arm around the blonde's shoulder and just sat there quietly waiting for the other girl to open up.

It was fifteen minutes before the silence was broken. "You know you aren't a very quiet swimmer. I could hear you coming long before you got here."

Miley didn't respond knowing that her aquatic skills were not the thing that brought Lilly out here. She was determined to wait her out, hoping to get to the heart of the matter. Her patience was soon rewarded.

"I'm the worst mom ever and my son is suffering because of it. I don't know what I'm doing. I got pregnant at sixteen, had a baby by seventeen and before I'm even eighteen I'm going to be married. What do I know about being married? I mean since my parents are such stellar examples of a happy couple."

Pausing she let the tears began to fall as her friend pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so afraid I'm going to screw this all up and RJ is the one that's going to be hurt. He doesn't deserve that. He deserves so much more, he's an angel. He's my angel. I just don't want him to one day hate me because I was to young to know what I was doing and screwed up his life. Maybe I should have given him up. Maybe he would have been better off with someone else."

Miley knew she needed to stop Lilly from this train of thought. "Do you love him?"

"You know I do."

"Well then as I see it, that's all that matters. As long as you give him all the love you have to give him, then everything will be alright. You are a great mom. Even before he was born you did everything you could to show you love for him. I know you and going on bed rest couldn't have been easy. I have never seen you sit still for more than five minutes. So watching you sit there day after day amazed me.

Then after he was born I watched you sit at the hospital every minute you possibly could. You wouldn't leave his side for a minute. Wishing and praying everyday that you could take him home. I don't know any other kid our age that would have done that. You love that little boy with everything you have in you and that's all that matters. We'll be there to help you if you need it."

Lilly sat there in silence soaking in what Miley was saying. She held on to her friend as all the emotions rolled out of her and she felt like she was finally releasing everything that was bottled up within her. "Thanks Miles. This is becoming a habit, me breaking down, and you figuring out how to fix me."

"No problem, that's what friends are for. It'll get better with time. You've had a lot to deal with. It's understandable." Standing up she held her hand out helping Lilly up. "Now what say we get out of these wet clothes? Race you back to shore." And with that she was gone.

"Cheater!" Lilly exclaimed before taking off after her. The two girls chatted comfortably on the short walk back to the house.

Jackson was no where to be found when they entered the house, but Robbie Ray was sitting on the couch watching some game on the TV. Looking up at the two girls he laughed seeing their wet and disheveled style. "Lilly, RJ's upstairs sleeping, go give him a quick kiss then get in the shower and get ready."

"Ready? For What?"'

He just gave her a smile, "You'll see."


A/N: Amazing no authors note at the beginning, maybe because you get one at the end haha. So here's the thing I've got to the point where I could take this story in two different directions all starting with one choice of the characters but I'm not sure which to use so I want your opinions.

Should Lilly and Jackson continue an intimate relationship or should they decide to wait until they are married?

Let me know what you think and preferably in a PM so it will be more of a surprise when I do write the outcome. I understand if your lazy though cause if it was me I'd just write it in a review. HAHA atleast I'm honest.