DISCLAIMER: Obviously I own nothing Degrassi. Boo, that sucks!


Going home was awkward. Emma walked through the corridors like a loner. No-one spoke to her, just about her. She carried her books over her stomach like it made her invisible, made her problems melt away. But, no such luck.

At home she went straight to her room and bolted the door at the top of the stairs so she could be alone to wallow in her own self-pity. She didn't to speak to her mom, she felt betrayed by Sauve and she felt let down by Jay. He'd gone and got himself suspended when she needed him to be there for her the most, and help her out. He couldn't do that now he was suspended; he'd be out every night getting wasted, sleeping with every girl that passed him by.

Emma had to pinch herself to remember that this really was happening, it wasn't some nightmare conjured up in her overactive brain as she slept. In less than six months she'd have a baby, a direct result of a one night stand with Jay. This baby would be half hers and half his. Her little reminder of Jay, whenever she looked down at the baby, she'd see him. Be reminded of his smug little face and cheating ass.

A text message came through from Manny at about 9 0'clock, but Emma deleted instantly before even reading it. She had no time for this girl anymore, her supposed best friend. She lay back on her bed and placed two hands on her stomach. There was no evidence yet to suggest she was with child, yet everyone knew. She'd pictured being able to keep it a secret until she'd figured out in her head what she was going to do. As she slowly began to fall asleep, she felt a light flutter in her stomach. She passed it off as nothing, and fell asleep with thoughts of Jay weighing heavy on her mind.


Jay Hogart was a man on a mission now. He was determined to get Alex back, and whatever it takes, he'd do it.

Jay called Alex and waited on tenterhooks () for her to answer.

"Jay, what do you want?"

"Oh, real nice." Jay said bluntly. "Come over."

"Why?"

"I'm bored. I've got an eighth of weed that we need to see to." Jay tried to tempt Alex with drugs. Not the best way, but it seemed to work, because half an hour later, she was sat on the coach next to Jay inhaling some of the good stuff. Jay looked discretely at her out of the corner of his eye. She was so damn beautiful, her Mediterranean looks, the fact that she was basically the female equivalent of him, they got on like a house on fire, but when they were together they just didn't mesh well. It'd be different this time though. Jay would make sure of this.

"Alex?" Jay turned and looked at her. His bloodshot blue eyes were barely usable. "What the hell happened?"

"You turned into a big frigid bitch and dumped me. Then I realized it was 'cos you were busy knocking up Greenpeace. Who the fuck woulda thought o' that? The enviro-nerd and my bad guy boyfriend?"

"Ex-boyfriend." Jay was unsure why he pointed that out. He mentally scolded himself for his stupidity.

"Sure, whatever." Alex said softly. Neither of them realized how close their heads were to each other. Without giving it a second thought Jay ducked his head forward and kissed Alex, who was taken aback. She leaned back and looked at Jay skeptically but let him lay into her for another kiss. Alex sank into the comfortable contours of the sofa, and felt the weight of Jay's lean, muscular body against hers. He was a great kisser, even while stoned. This bought back memories of happier times for Alex, but every time she tried to think of getting back with Jay, she remembered he'd soon be a dad.

Alex felt Jay's hands drop to the zipper of her jeans and she had to bring things to a halt before they got out of control. "Jay, stop." Alex said turning her face away from his and grabbing his hands firmly but trying to remain kind, so he'd remain calm. "We can't... it won't work."

"Come on, Alex. You can't drive all the way there, just to turn back at the last minute."

"Interesting metaphor, Shakespeare." Alex quipped.

"Moment killer, Alex." Jay pointed out awkwardly as he rolled over and sat back in the seat feeling more than a bit put out. Shot down in the prime of life.

"Jay, think about it. You're having a baby."

Jay had never heard it be put so bluntly before. "Holy shit. I can't handle that." He gasped anxiously. "I can't be a dad, I'm seventeen fucking years old. How can I look after someone, I can't even look after myself." Jay threw a hand to his unshaved face, then waved it around the untidy apartment. It had been a day and it looked like a bomb had hit it. "Shit, Alex. I need out of this. She can't have this baby, I'm not ready."

"It's not just about you, Jay. It's up to her, to Emma." She said reluctantly. "It's her choice, I'm sorry."

"I can't do this! You know me better than anyone, can't you see?" Jay wailed hopelessly.

"I don't know, Jay. But what I do know is that you gotta talk to Greenpeace. You gotta know what's going on in your life, it's your shit. Your neck on the line, when Simpson and her mom find out it's gonna be your balls they wanna rip off, OK? Talk to Emma."

Jay grabbed the phone and started dialing. Alex reached over quickly and snatched it out of his hand. "You can't ring at eleven at night, you'll scare the shit outta her."

"Yeah. You're right." Jay was almost robotic, child like now. He shuffled forward in his seat and grabbed the joint out of the ashtray. He ran the lighter flame across the ash then slipped it between his lips carefully. He dragged on it hard and the cherry at the end glowed in the darkness that surrounded Alex and Jay.

"I'm gonna go." Alex said quietly. She left Jay with a kiss on the cheek and that was it. That left Jay to wallow in what was going on and what that meant for him now things were changing.


The next day was a little more positive for Miss Emma Nelson. At school, she wasn't greeted by people talking about her. At least not everyone. On her way to homeroom, she was stopped in the hallway by a girl in ninth grade she didn't even know. "Hi, Emma? I just wanted to say congrats, despite everything, I think it's so brave what your doing."

Emma was unsure if this was genuine kindness, or whether this girl was secretly laughing at this prank with her friends, but either way, she was more than a little relieved that she hadn't made an enemy of everyone at Degrassi.

"OK, Emma, hurry in, OK your late." Snake said almost solemnly as she walked into homeroom mere moments late.

"Emma seems to be having problems with lateness at the minute." Someone shouted out loudly as she took her place. Simpson ignored this and proceeded to call attendance.

Manny scooted over on her wheelie chair so she was as far from Emma as she could be. What does this mean? Emma wondered to herself. Either Manny hated her or she was sorry but had no way of showing that.

A knock on the door disrupted the class once again, and Emma grimaced in her seat as she saw Sauve appear. She exchanged a quick babble with Simpson, then Emma found herself trudging back out the way she had just came.

"Emma, I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I've got some good news for you."

"No news is good news." Emma said flatly.

Ms Sauve's eyes flickered and she looked struck down, but she soldiered on. "You've got an appointment with Dr. Stone at the clinic in Toronto tomorrow. Nine am sharp. You can find out where you stand."

"I know what's going on. I don't need some doctor telling me stuff I already know, OK?" Emma was being difficult on purpose. She wasn't going to let Sauve walk all over her after she'd betrayed her confidence like that.

"It's your decision, Emma. But we're talking about a life here. What's it gonna be? Moral high ground or an easy escape?" Sauve practically issued Emma with an ultimatum. "Don't let me regret having faith in you, OK?"

Maybe that would be the jolt Emma needed to get her act together and start planning what was going to happen in six months when she and Jay were parents.


A/N:

() - not sure if people will get that bit (tenterhooks basically means waiting nervously for an answer or response.)

Well theres one more chapter for y'all. This one was beta'd by KagSanlover, yay! lol Thanku!!

Please R&R, I love reviews as u will all know by know I'm sure!

Nuff Luff x x x x