Four months later…

Mark waited at the airport before the first gate peopled and a crowd of people walked out. Waiting, he finally caught sight of Marian as she wheeled her suitcase over. Underneath her black jumper, Mark could see a perfect round baby bump starting to appear. She never looked so beautiful before. Smiling he waved her over.

"Mark!"

Smiling she hugged him. Mark just then felt a million times better that she was back. Having flown out to visit her parents and break the news of the pregnancy, she told Mark she needed to do this alone. She wanted to tell theme everything and her plans. Mark the entire time felt nervous about what would happen. If they turned their backs the only family she had were her friends.

He knew this kind of stress wasn't good for her. The last four months had been hard. Marian spent half of it at Mark's apartment. Slowly the pain of Warren's death were slowly setting in. She often cried, and called out for him in his sleep, but Mark knew within time she would get better. Death never eased pain, it just faded in and out during one's life. But Mark was supportive. So wasn't the others. All accept Satori. Jealous about Mark helping Marian out, she thought it was one awful mistake. That helping raise this baby would only cause more problems. But Mark knew the truth and it hurt him to know she felt that way.

But Mark needed to be strong. Marian was fragile and needed time.

As of right now the future along with this baby seemed very unknown. In another few weeks Marian would finally be finished college. From that moment onward…she didn't know what came next. If she should get a job, move back home, move into Mark's, or keep her apartment. Mark meanwhile told her whatever choice she made he would be there for her.

Marian still seemed stunned.

She was nearly finished with college, and here she was pregnant.

She suffered morning sickness, and often still just laid around looking off into space. Mark was there for her through every second. He knew the reason she acted like this was because of her worries. First she was thrown into a very unknown part of life, meeting all of them and gaining knowledge of her powers. Then after all these strange things, she met Warren. Now he was dead and she was pregnant. Not even twenty-three and pregnant. Often she sat up at night, talking with Mark. She had so many worries. Just a few months ago her biggest problem was trying to choose her major, now she was pregnant and the baby's father dead. Mark tried to explain about maybe it having to do with what happened at Elmer's less then a year ago. How the force asked them all what they wanted. But Marian wouldn't agree. She didn't want to believe that everything happened for a reason and the unknown forces were behind it. She couldn't really wake up to the hard cold truth of everything. She would be a mother soon.

And the baby?

She hadn't talked about it yet. She was slowly taking each day as she went on.

Smiling and hugging her friend, Marian looked a million times better. She was putting on weight and had an old sparkle behind her eyes. Walking with Mark outside, she told him how great it was to be back. Helping her put her luggage in his trunk, he finally asked…

"What happened?"

Marian sighed pushing back her hair.

"Well I told them that I was pregnant, and that the father was a friend of mine who died in a car accident."

Mark helped her into he car.

"What was their reaction?"

"What do you think?"

Marian forced a smile before sitting back in her seat.

"I couldn't blame them…I mean we were always this well adjusted family, and here I am back from college pregnant."

"Were they angry?"

Marian slowly nodded.

"Lots of crying and yelling, telling me that I should of gotten an abortion and what a mistake I was making, then that was it."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well I cashed all my accounts, my grandparents were pretty well off and left a lot to me and my sister, I'm sure I can hold off until the baby is born."

Mark began to drive into the city, his gaze straight ahead as Marian talked.

"I'll be finished school early, within the next month…after the baby is born I'll see about a job. I want to help people, maybe a social worker…"

"Could use your strengths for that…"

"That's what I was thinking, I mean I know I should be more upset about the things my family said, most of all my parents…but I'm so tried of feeling dragged down. It's going to be hard, I mean I know that…I just want to live now and forget about the pain."

"Do you think their going to ever talk to you again?"

Marian shrugged.

"Maybe once the baby is born…"

"So your keeping it? I mean…your not giving it up?"

Marian sighed, folding her arms.

"I know it would be the smart thing to do, but this baby is Warren's, I couldn't go through all of this and then give it up."

Mark smiled before slipping his hand over hers.

"I'm glad, and I wanted to ask you something…"

"What?"

Mark struggled with his words.

"Well, ummm…I was wondering if you wanted to move in with me. I mean I have plenty of room and I think you might need the help with the baby coming."

"Mark you've all ready done enough, I couldn't do that…"

"No, really…I want you to, I mean I wanna help you raise the baby."

"But Mark…"

"Marian, I've been depressed…all I do is work, I don't have time to search for that special someone. Warren was my friend and I think this baby deserves another person that loves it. I mean we could do this together…I want to."

Marian looked over.

"Are…you sure?"

Mark nodded.

"Of course I am."

Marian then smiled.

"Okay…"

Looking out the window she faintly smiled. Mark glanced at her and felt better about himself. He knew she was scared and needed someone now.

At Mark's apartment…

Helping her place her suitcases in the spare room she had been sleeping in, Mark tried his hardest to smile at her before glancing out the window. It was clear crisp day out and the weather was getting colder. Marian thanked him and began unpacking. Mumbling something about getting some sleep before his next shift, Mark shuffled out into the living room and sighed. He had finally made the decision to help Marian out. That if she really did plan on keeping the baby, she would need all the help she could get. He understood she was scared, and really didn't know what would happen next. But Mark did know she needed a friend, somebody who could love this baby as much as Warren would have.

Walking to his bedroom and taking his coat off, he knew tomorrow morning he would bring up the topic of Marian finally selling her own apartment and moving in. After that they could start getting things in order and start planning for the baby.

The baby…

Thoughts raced through Mark's head as he laid across his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Drumming his fingers against his chest, he began to think of how much this changed things. But whenever he looked at Marian, he felt safe. Something seemed protecting, something warn and comforting. Something nice.

He wanted to raise his baby as though it was his own. He wanted to love it and care for it. He wanted Marian and him to make this work. Two good friends, pretending the other side couldn't control their life's. Shutting his eyes he began to think of the others meetings. There really hadn't been any since Warren's death. Mark still visited Elmer at least twice a week and often ran into Miles and Albert. Satori on the other hand kept her distance. Mark knew what she thought of him helping Marian with the baby.

She was jealous, she always was.

He wished so badly he could just explain this wasn't romantic at all. Marian was his friend and he just wanted to help her. If he could, he would be with Satori. But it just seemed as though mother nature wouldn't allow it.

Slowly drifting off to sleep, he dreamed of walking down a sidewalk late at night. It was chilly and he saw his breath come out in tiny little puffs. Just then he saw Warren, standing thin in an overcoat and staring at him. Seconds later he was gone.

When Mark woke his alarm was going off. Rubbing his hair back, he dressed and checked in on Marian who was curled up in bed reading. Smiling at him, she wished him a good night as he left.

The entire night he kept thinking back to that dream.