"I'm going to take Anna for a walk," Craig said suddenly. Cara understood his motives, sitting around in a hospital waiting room while the girl you knocked up in high school had her baby probably was kind of awkward; though Fi was worse off as she'd only met these people the same night. Cara shifted uncomfortably as Craig guided a skipping Anna down the corridor. Fi was twiddling her thumbs and biting her lip. Cara felt like she should say something; but what?

"So . . . chaotic night, huh?" She said awkwardly. Fi raised her eyebrows but did not look up from her hands. "I haven't been in a hospital in like forever. I kinda forgot how creepy they are." Fi's lips twitched into a small, tight smile. She remained silent. The smile vanished as soon as it had appeared and her face became more frustrated, as if she was working out something difficult.

"Do you remember him?" She asked suddenly. She flicked her eyes up to meet Cara's. They studied her face, no doubt noting how much like Craig she was in appearance. She sucked in a short breath and let it out in a quick rush. "Sorry, stupid question." She looked back down at her hands. She felt so small, so young again, despite being almost thirty.

"No." Cara kept her answer simple. Fi nodded as if comprehending this information. "It's always just been Mum for as long as I can remember."

"You didn't even know his name?"

"Not for a long time. I, ah, found an old diary. It's where I found names and all." Cara told Fi. "I found some pictures too." Cara fished in her bag for her purse; from her purse she pulled out the photo of her and Craig.

"Is that one?"

"Yeah."

"Can I see?" She handed Fi the photo. Fi smiled and touched Craig's face. She continued to look at the photo for several minutes. She didn't speak; she just studied the photo in her hands with the greatest care. After some time she handed Cara back the photo. "I'm sorry you grew up without him." She whispered. Cara shrugged it off but Fi's words echoed in her head. I'm sorry you grew up without him.

Cara's phone rang loudly; both Fi and Cara jumped.

"Excuse me," Cara mumbled hitting answer.

"Cara! Oh my God you said you'd call when dinner was over!" Lo's voice sang into Cara's ear.

"Hey Lo."

"Where are you?"

"The hospital."

"Shit! Did Manny knock him out of something?"

"No, uh, the baby's coming!"

"Wow, that's awkward." They laughed. "I'm coming to hospital, okay!"

"No, Lo. . ." Click. Okay, Lo was coming to the hospital. Fi looked slightly bemused.

"My friend," Cara told her.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, Lo, uh, Lauren," Fi raised an eyebrow and nodded, "but there's Sammy, uh, Sam, and Blake too." Cara added. Why did I say that? What the hell? Fi just smiled.

"Cara!" Lo dashed across the waiting room. Behind her were Sammy and Blake. Craig had returned with Anna by now too. Lo flung her arms around Cara, "I swore someone was dead when said you were at the hospital!"

"Right. Uh, Lo, why are Sammy and Blake here? It's like midnight."

"Well I needed someone to drive, hence Blake, and I couldn't just leave Sammy out of this. That would be bitchy!" Lo laughed.

"Are you high?" Cara turned to look and Sammy and Blake, "is she high?"

"Surprisingly not," Sammy grinned. "Are you going to introduce us?"

"Right, ah, Craig, Fi, this is Sam, Lo and Blake; Sammy, Lo, Blake, this is Craig, my Dad, and Fi, my step mum," Cara told them. She then noticed Anna. "Oh yeah and this is Anna," Cara added. Before anyone could say anything else the midwife came out of Manny's room. She beamed.

"You can go in now," she informed the group. Everyone shuffled towards the room and filed in. as Cara went to go in Blake grabbed her hand and pulled her back. Cara stumbled and almost crashed into Blake.

"Is everything okay?" He asked gently.

"Surprisingly, yes, everything's great." Cara told him. She reached forward and grabbed his hand. She squeezed it softly. "Come on." Cara pulled Blake into the small, crowded room. Manny and Jay beamed and Cara when they saw her. Manny was holding a small bundle in her arms.

"Cara," Manny smiled, "meet your little brother." Cara's face broke into a grin. Manny held the baby forward and Cara took his sleeping body into her own arms. He was so tiny but so beautiful. His head had soft, dark hair and his nose was all squashy looking. Rather than being asleep he was wide awake. He looked at Cara; he had big, brown eyes that would make you melt.

"We're calling him Mack, Mack Hogart-Santos," Jay told Cara.

"Well Mack Hogart-Santos, welcome to the world, we've been expecting you," Cara kissed his forehead and held him back towards Manny.

"Craig, do you want a hold?" Manny asked softly.

"It would be an honour," he told her taking Mack into his arms. Cara reached back and grabbed Blake's hand again. Blake wound it around her so his arm around her so her arm went across her front and he had his arm around her waist. Cara smiled at him and he returned the smile.

Cara turned back and observed the room, her Mum in the bed and Jay with his arms around her; Craig holding baby Mack and Fi looking over his shoulder in awe with Anna holding onto her hand; Lo and Sammy with their arms slung over each other's shoulders laughing at something Jay had said, Blake with his arm around her, watching on too, and herself standing watching them all. These people in this room were her family. They were whom she belonged with and she knew could count on every single one of these people if she needed them. She couldn't wait to get to know her father, Fi and Anna; to love Mack and watch Jay and Manny so in love; to hang out with Sammy and Lo; and to see more of Blake. And Cara was sure at that very moment that her life couldn't get any better because for once everything was absolutely perfect.

Oh God, I might get a little emotional now. That was the conclusion to Cara's story. I don't really think there is going to be a sequel; I feel this is much more stand alone. I feel really sad because that's it. I decided to leave it more open-ended so you could decide for yourself what happened next. I really hope you enjoyed reading it; and thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed my fic, you were amazing support. I hope some of you might read some of my other fics and I have a new Degrassi one on the way about Clare. (Yes I've started watching the later seasons [finally!]) But anyway watch out for that. Happy Holidays!

TheBlackRosette