Connor (age 21, September, San Diego)

I was sitting in the living room floor playing blocks with Colleen. Jude had gone to run some errands and I had said I would stay home with Colleen. I missed her and felt like I hadn't been spending much time with her lately. I had been picking up extra hours at the sports store to help out around here but I knew as soon as school started next week I would have to cut back hours.

Colleen knocked over the block tower I had built and clapped her hands as she laughed. I smiled at her and built it again. But my heart wasn't in it today, I was thinking of Jude. Ever since my birthday a week ago I felt like he was hiding something from me. He was acting strange like he was afraid to tell me something. My mind went to he had cheated on me with someone but I didn't really think that was it. I tried hard to trust him but with all that was going on with Gracie right now it was in the back of my mind.

After a few more times of knocking over the block tower Colleen started to rub her eyes. It was a sign she was getting sleepy. She crawled into my lap and snuggled to my chest. I just sat there with her in my lap. I knew with my knee I would never get up off the floor with her in my arms. Luckily Jude came through the door a few minutes later. He smiled when he saw me and Colleen on the floor with blocks all over the living room floor.

"Do you need help?" he asked.

"Yes please," I nodded.

He came over and took Colleen from me and walked to the bedroom with her. I picked up the blocks and got up from the floor. I sat down on the couch and turned on the T.V. to see what was on. Jude came back and sat beside me. He turned to face me and I turned off the T.V., knowing that the look on his face was his we need to talk look.

"I have something to tell you and I need you to promise you won't freak out," Jude started the conversation.

"Did you cheat on me with some girl? Or a guy?" I didn't mean to say it. It just came out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"No, why would you ask me that?" he sounded offended.

"I don't know you've been kind of distant since my birthday. It was just a question," I said regretting asking that.

"I would never cheat on you Connor. I am with you and only you, just so you know," Jude assured me as he grabbed my hand and squeezed.

"Then what is wrong?" I asked.

I needed to know what the issue was if he wasn't cheating. He was scaring me to be honest. I had never been so scared of a conversation in my life. If he wasn't cheating on me or leaving me, what the fuck was going on?

"On your birthday I had lunch with Gracie and the adoptive parents," he paused.

"Yeah I know. You never told me how it went and it wasn't my place to push it."

I hadn't asked because really it wasn't my place. I was just Jude's boyfriend. I had nothing to do with the baby or Gracie's decisions. I knew this had to their decision not mine. I had a very strong opinion on it but I kept it to myself.

"Well they are a gay couple," he paused again. "Their names are Phillip and Tyler. Tyler is a history teacher and Phillip works as a freelance writer for the paper."

"Phillip is a writer?" I asked.

Jude nodded and looked at me like I was missing something. He waited for a few minutes and I tried to process why he was telling me this. I didn't really need or want to know all of this. If Gracie had agreed to give the baby to these people than they deserved to get it. Then it dawned on me.

"Oh, Phillip as in Lip, my ex?" I asked just to make sure.

"Yes the same Lip. He knew I was the baby's father too. He sent me a text after they left," Jude showed me the texts.

"He sent me a text on my birthday to say happy birthday. I just ignored it."

"Jude you can't let him adopt the baby," I said.

"Why? He was always so good with Colleen and she liked him," Jude answered like he was trying to convince himself more than me.

"He's just trying to get back at you. You don't know him like I do. He is a very vindictive person," I said. I couldn't believe this was happening. I didn't trust Lip or his intentions towards this baby. I didn't think he would hurt the baby but he would try to hurt me or Jude. I couldn't let this happen.

Just then Jude's phone started ringing. When he didn't answer it rang again right away. He fished it from his pocket and I could see Gracie's name on the screen. I sighed. What did she want? This conversation was far from done and she was interrupting.

"Hello," Jude said into the phone.

"YOU SORRY SON OF A BITCH!" Gracie screamed so loud I heard her clearly.

"Gracie what's wrong?" Jude asked staying surprisingly calm.

"They backed out of the adoption! Something about Phillip leaving for Boston without Tyler," she was still yelling.

"Well you'll find someone else right?" Jude asked.

"Not the point Jude! I liked them! I wanted them!" she yelled before hanging up.

Jude put the phone down on the couch and we sat there in silence for a few minutes. He looked deep in thought. I wondered if we were thinking the same thing. I thought maybe this was a sign we should keep the baby. I had been thinking a lot about it and I did want too. it would be a big adjustment but I was willing to do it. I just needed to convince Jude this was a sign.

"You see this is our chance Jude. It can be our baby. All you have to do is say the word and I'm in," I said, trying hard to sound confident about it.

"Connor this is a big commitment. Are you sure you're ready for that? I mean I know you accept Colleen, but you have no legal rights to her. This baby would be your legal child if we do that," Jude still sounded unsure. "I can't ask you to take responsibility for my mistakes."

"This baby wasn't a mistake. It was meant to be ours," I reassured him.

He sighed. I could tell he was still unsure. I knew Gracie had already signed over her rights to the baby but Jude had yet to sign the paperwork to sign over his rights. The baby still legally belonged to him, so once it was born all I had to do was file a petition to adopt. Then I had a great idea.

"I want to legally adopt Colleen too," I said.

Jude looked at me and smiled. I already thought of her as mine. She was one of the best things in my life. Her and Jude were my reason for living and I wanted to make it official. I wanted to make everything official but I wasn't sure if Jude was ready for that. So I held off on my marriage proposal plan. He had planned on marrying Tamarin before she died and I fear he wasn't ready for another fiancée. I knew I had to wait for the right time for that and I was pushing my luck by even suggesting I adopt Colleen.

"Okay so we're really gonna do this?" Jude asked.

"Yes it's gonna happen Jude if it's what you want too." I grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes to let him know I was serious. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared as hell. I was going to be a dad of two in a few short months.

"Yes I want it too," Jude smiled.

A/N: So Jude and Connor are keeping the baby! But it won't be all sunshine and roses like Connor thinks it will. After all the story is called Broken for a reason!