Skye:

2 days later

"What do you think?" I asked as I stepped out of my room.

I held my arms out to the side and did a little spin. It was the night of the winter ball and Tasha had convinced me to go. We'd even gone dress shopping for the occasion. I wore a frosty blue dress that came down to my knees. It was a little tight around my middle, but otherwise perfect. The fabric was soft and shimmery and the skirt billowed around my legs every time I twirled. I loved it.

"You look beautiful!" Tasha exclaimed, grinning.

I smiled back. It was her who looked stunning that night. She wore a sleek violet halter dress that showed off her curves. It had a plunging neckline that was going to drive the boys mad. In comparison, my dress was quite plain being a simple spaghetti strap. It did make my boobs look big though in my opinion.

"I think I've decided to wear my heels." I announced as I walked back over to the sofa where Tasha had set up a hair and beauty station.

"You sure?" She checked.

I nodded.

"May as well whilst I still can." I pointed out. "My ankles will be the size of a Brachiosaur's soon."

Tasha laughed.

"Fair point. Come sit here and let me sought your hair out." I obediently sat down with my back to Tash. My face scrunched up as she started dragging a brush through my thick curls. "Do you want your hair up or down?"

"Down." I decided easily. It was cold outside; having my hair down would give me a little added warmth. "Thanks for convincing me to come tonight. Just getting ready with you has been fun."

"It's like old times, isn't it?" I nodded my head slightly. "Do you ever wish we can go back to that time?"

I frowned glumly. Of course I'd love to go back to a time when my mom was still alive; but for me that also meant returning to a very dark point in my life where I was stuck spying for Mira.

"No." I mumbled. "The past is the past. I'd rather look to the future."

"I still can't believe you're going to have a baby!" She exclaimed.

I chuckled and patted the little mound on my belly.

"Me either. I can't believe it's already been three months. The time is flying by."

Tasha brushed out the final knot in my hair.

"Straight or curls?" She asked.

"Hmmm...straight. I'll try something a bit different for once."

"Good answer." I watched as she turned on her straighteners. "I saw Josh today." Tasha suddenly announced.

"Oh?"

"He asked me if it was true that you're pregnant."

I winced.

"What did you say?" I queried.

Tasha pulled up the top layer of my hair into a high bun.

"Well obviously I told him it was. You're not going to be able to hide it in that dress."

I sighed glumly.

"I knew it was going to get around quickly. I have started telling a few people. You know how news spreads around here."

"Mmmhmmm." Tasha remarked. She picked up the straighteners and ran them through the first section of the bottom layer of my hair. "I have heard people whispering about it. Up until now though if anyone asked me I just brushed it off as gossip."

"I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep it a secret for long." I groaned. "I just wish I could have hidden it for a little longer. It's going to be strange everyone knowing."

"I'm not going to feel as privileged anymore." Tasha commented.

I chuckled.

"So how did Josh take it?" I questioned after a few moments of quiet had passed.

"Honestly? Not well." Tasha released my hair from the bun and then set work on straightening the twisted locks. "He didn't say anything bad. It was just the look on his face. He just looked...angry and sad." Tasha tittered. "It's like he thought he still had a chance at getting you back." I frowned gloomily. "How naive of him?"

I nodded my head slowly.

"Yeah." I muttered. I gently stroked my thumb against my middle, lost in my thoughts for a few moments. "Do you think I was naive choosing Lucas over Josh?"

"Where did that come from?!" Tasha asked, pausing her hairdressing for a moment in surprise.

I shrugged a shoulder.

"Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better if I'd stayed with Josh." I remarked.

Tasha sighed.

"It might have been easier if you had stayed with him, but you wouldn't have been as happy would you?"

"You don't know that. I was happy with Josh for a long time."

"Yeah you were. But you were happier with Lucas." Tasha pointed out. "I could tell from the way you spoke about him how much you loved him. You never sounded that way about Josh."

I frowned.

"I didn't?"

"Nope. Never." Tasha lightly combed my hair. "You want to know what I think? I think you and Josh made a cute couple whilst you were young, but then you grew out of that relationship. Josh has always acted like a bit of a spoilt brat. You've always been so mature. You and Lucas were truly in love." My throat started to swell as I thought of him. "And besides, if you and Lucas hadn't gotten together, my future godchild wouldn't be here now."

I sniggered.

"Josh and I might have had a baby."

"Maybe. But it wouldn't be as gorgeous as yours and Lucas's. Josh is cute and all but Lucas is just sex God material." I laughed. "You'll get him back Skye. I know it." She whispered. I smiled sadly. "Now, no more boy talk. Here." She handed me a mirror. "What do you think?"

My eyes widened as I beheld my reflection. My hair was dead straight; it made me look so much more mature.

"Oh it looks great! Thank you!"

Tasha grinned.

"No problem. Now let's sort out make up. We're going to dazzle everyone at the ball tonight."

XXX

Lucas:

"Do we have to go?" I groaned for what must have been the one hundredth time.

I sat on my bed watching as Sarah rummaged through my wardrobe, looking for a nice shirt for me to wear.

"Yes." She answered firmly. "This is my first party and we will not be missing it." She pulled out a navy blue button up shirt and waved it back at me. "This...this is perfect." Then she threw it straight into my face. I pulled it down into my lap and frowned. "Now get dressed." She ordered, skipping out from my room.

I grimaced. Public gatherings were a particular hate of mine. Also everyone suddenly seemed to know about Skye's pregnancy so I was officially the most disliked man in Terra Nova. Although no one had had the guts to say anything to my face, I had heard constant whispering behind my back about how selfish and despicable I was for abandoning Skye in her time of need. Though I reasoned if people were that bothered by my actions it must have meant they cared about Skye, so at least I knew she wouldn't be completely on her own.

"You'd better be getting ready in there!" Sarah's voice called out.

I groaned loudly.

"I am...I am! Geez!" I grumbled.

Reluctantly, I got to my feet and changed shirts. Sarah had already forced me into a pair of black trousers. I shuffled across to my sock drawer and pulled out a standard black pair. My throat seized when I uncovered the photo I had dumped in there a few weeks prior. With a shaky hand, I reached in and plucked up the square photograph. I turned it over so I could see the picture. My heart jolted as I gazed at the tiny figure in the black mesh. Since Skye had given me a copy of her ultrasound scan, I'd hidden it away and tried to forget about it. I probably should have just thrown it out, and yet something had stopped me from doing that.

Guilt and remorse filled me as I stared at the baby. Last time I had seen it, I had crashed my fist through the glass of my father's Plex. A small smile tugged at my lips as I distinguished its hand that was raised as if it were waving. I could not believe I had had a hand in creating that. A heavy feeling weighed down my chest as I thought about then what I was giving up.

"Oh you look fantastic!" Sarah exclaimed, reappearing at my doorway.

I jumped violently as she spoke and hurriedly hid the photo back in my sock drawer.

"Jesus Sarah!" I snapped.

I slammed the drawer back closed and turned to face her.

"Sorry, did I make you jump?" She asked as if it weren't obvious.

"It's fine." I mumbled. My eyes widened then as I actually took in her appearance. She was wearing a knee length white dress, with her blonde hair flowing down her back. She looked absolutely stunning. "Wow." I commented.

Sarah beamed, almost jumping up and down with excitement.

"Do you really like it?" She queried, looking down at herself. "This must be my first time wearing a dress so I wasn't too sure."

"You look amazing." I assured.

She grinned at me.

"You too. I knew that was the right shirt. Now c'mon otherwise we'll be late!"

I watched as she skipped off into the living room. She was so energetic all of the time; that must have been what having a kid felt like. I sat down on my bed and pulled on my socks and boots. Then I strolled out down the hall to the front door. I pulled on my jacket and waited for Sarah as she slipped on her shoes. She hurriedly joined me in the hallway. I handed her jacket to her, which she quickly put on. It really was starting to feel like winter out there.

"Ready?" I checked.

Sarah nodded.

"Ready." I opened the door and followed her out of the house. She looped her arm through mine as we wandered through Terra Nova. "Is it odd that I feel a little scared?"

I shook my head.

"No. I get it must be a big deal going to a big event like this." I glanced across at her. "Y'know it's not too late to back out and go back home."

Sarah smirked at me and rolled her eyes.

"Do you really not want to go?"

I shrugged. Of course I didn't because I knew Skye was going to be there. Avoiding her was hard enough on a day to day basis. It was going to be practically impossible not to bump into her at the party. If she was there in a dress, looking beautiful I knew it was going to be hard not to go and talk to her.

"It's not really my scene." I announced.

Sarah narrowed her eyes.

"I thought you said you had never been to one of these shindigs. How do you know it's not your scene?"

I pulled a face.

"I'm not particularly sociable."

Sarah chuckled.

"Well I promise not to leave your side if you promise not to leave mine. Deal?"

I grinned and nodded my head.

"Deal."

And with that, we headed to the main square where music could be heard playing.

XXX

Skye:

Wearing heels had been a terrible decision. I'd only been at the party for about forty minutes and already I was sat down in a chair with aching feet. So far I wasn't really enjoying myself that night. Everyone was whispering about me being pregnant, thinking they were experts on mine and Lucas's relationship. I'd bumped into Eddie, who seemed to have forgotten what had happened to him last time after he had been too forward with me. Luckily Hunter had come to my rescue and had taken me out to the dance floor. Everyone was drinking except for me who was stuck having the soft drinks from the kiddie table. I sighed feeling miserable.

"So it's true then." A voice breathed into my ear.

I jumped so hard that I practically fell of my seat.

"Shit!" I exclaimed, feeling my heart pound. Matt just laughed at my reaction and came and sat down opposite me. "You scared me!" I accused, holding my hand over my heart.

Matt raised his hands in surrender.

"Sorry." He apologised. "So...congratulations."

My shoulders sagged.

"You've heard then?"

Matt nodded.

"Yeah I heard. How are you doing?"

I smiled and patted my stomach.

"I'm okay. Just have sore feet already. And I'm stuck drinking orange juice."

He smirked.

"How many months are you?"

"Just over three." I replied.

His eyes widened.

"Wow. That's cool." He looked around the place, examining the party. "You don't look like you're having much fun here." He observed.

I shrugged.

"I'm just tired. I'm always tired at the moment."

He chuckled.

"That must suck. Do you want me to get you some food?"

I shook my head.

"Nah. I had a late lunch so I'm not that hungry at the moment. But thank you." He smiled. "What you been up to?"

"Not a lot. I'm part of the Terra Nova security team now. That's been pretty cool. I think Taylor's really starting to trust us all now. He's been giving me more responsibility, which I appreciate."

"Taylor's a really good guy."

Matt smirked.

"Unlike his son." He teased. I pulled a face and was about to defend Lucas; but then my eyes spotted him across the way. My mouth fell open when I saw the blonde, who'd been in his house the other day, attached to his arm. They walked in like a couple. They were laughing and talking like a couple. I frowned, feeling a powerful jealously begin to rise within me. "Skye?"

My eyes flicked back to Matt. He was frowning quizzically at me.

"What?" I asked, thinking I must have missed something he had said.

He glanced behind him, in the direction I had been looking, before frowning back at me.

"Have I missed something?"

"No." I got to my feet then. "I gotta go to the bathroom." I mumbled.

Not giving Matt chance to say another word, I sped off in the opposite direction to where I'd just seen Lucas.

XXX

Lucas:

"God this is worse than I thought it was going to be." I commented, glancing around the area.

Sarah laughed at me.

"Well I think it's wonderful."

I gave her a look.

"Sarah, you think everything is wonderful." I pointed out.

Sarah shook her head.

"Not true."

"Yes true. You got excited when I showed you Memorial Field yesterday." I remarked.

"I thought it was a lovely idea. Where I'm from the custom is just to dump the body and let it rot. I think giving someone an actual service and proper burial is just...beautiful and respectful. I like that."

I sighed.

"Here."

I picked up two glasses of white wine and handed her one. As Sarah examined the contents, I downed my full glass and went in for my second.

"What is it?" She queried.

"Wine."

She sniffed it.

"Can I have this with the pills that I'm on?" She questioned.

My eyes widened then. I hadn't thought of that. Who the hell had thought leaving Sarah in my care had been a good plan?

"Shit, no. Probably not." I took the glass back from her. "C'mon, we'll find you a soft drink." She sniggered at me and followed me to the table that was clearly more meant for kids. I poured her some orange juice and gave that to her instead. "That one you can have."

Sarah beamed and took a sip. Then she looked around the area, looking amazed by every last detail she spotted.

"Do you want to dance?" She asked.

"No." I answered simply.

Sarah groaned at me.

"You're so boring." I nodded my head in agreement. "Oh look it's your dad." She pointed through the crowd. Sure enough, there was the old man. He was talking to Jim Shannon, probably about work. He could never take a night off. "Do you want to say hi?"

"Definitely not."

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Well what do you want to do?" She asked. My eyes widened then as I spotted Skye. She was stood with her group of friends and she looked fucking gorgeous. She was wearing a simple yet stunning blue dress and her hair was completely straight for once. I'd never noticed how long her hair was. "Lucas!" Sarah exclaimed, hitting my arm to try and get my attention back.

I blinked a couple of times before glancing back at Sarah.

"What?" I asked uncertainly, getting the feeling she had asked me about something.

Sarah had also clearly spotted Skye. She stared across at her before looking at me again.

"Do you want to go talk to her?"

I shook my head quickly.

"God no!" I replied as if it were obvious.

Sarah folded her arms.

"Well we have to do something?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go over there and decide."

I pointed in the opposite direction to where Skye was. Sarah rolled her eyes at me.

"Are you really that much of a coward?" She asked.

"Yes, clearly I am." I put my hands on her shoulders and began ushering her away from the scene. "Now, c'mon." I encouraged.

XXX

Skye:

I had not anticipated Lucas showing up. I couldn't even comprehend why he would want to make an appearance; he hated big public gatherings. Knowing he was somewhere there meant that I could not relax at all. I was constantly looking around for him so that I could avoid him like the plague.

"I might just go." I mumbled to Tash.

She rolled her eyes at me.

"Don't let him ruin tonight Skye!" Tasha remarked. "This was our fun girls night out, remember?"

My shoulders sagged.

"Fine. I'll stay for a bit longer."

She grinned at me.

"Good. Now lets go and dance!"

She grabbed my hand and started to pull me with her, but I quickly stopped.

"You go. My feet are killing me. I should have worn the flats."

Tasha sniggered at me.

"Will you be okay?" I nodded. "Good. I won't be long."

She blew me a kiss as she headed back off to the dance floor, where Hunter and Max were. I sighed and headed back to my kiddie table to get more orange squash.

XXX

Lucas:

"Please can we go and dance?" Sarah begged.

I groaned. I was more than comfortable at the secluded table I had found for us to sit at.

"Why don't you go and dance if it means that much to you and I will wait here and guard the table so no one else gets it."

Sarah raised a brow.

"But I'll be breaking my promise to you to not leave your side."

I smirked.

"I'll forgive you just this once." I assured.

She looked uncertainly at the dance floor.

"I don't really know anyone over there."

"Then go and introduce yourself and make some new friends." I encouraged.

Sarah nodded her head.

"Right. I will." She announced, trying to sound confident.

I watched as she got to her feet.

"Good luck." I called after her as she marched off to the dance floor.

Almost immediately she found a group of girls who willingly accepted her presence. I smiled as I watched her dancing; she was terrible but she looked like she was enjoying herself. Then my eyes drifted to the opposite side of the floor. I had a perfect view of Skye. My heart clenched as I realised she was on her own. She was stood next to the banquet tables, sipping at her drink. She looked as uncomfortable as I felt. I could understand why she was feeling so uneasy. We were the talk of Terra Nova. Everyone was whispering how I had knocked her up and then abandoned her. Their idle gossip sickened me because I had heard some people calling Skye some horrible things.

My eyes narrowed as I saw someone approach Skye. Even from back where I was sat I could tell she had tensed up. His back was too me, so I couldn't tell who it was. However I could see that he was trying to offer her some kind of alcoholic beverage. Rage sparked within me. Did he not know she was pregnant? If he did something that could harm our baby I would fucking end him.

I could see Skye was shaking her head and refusing the drink, but still he was persisting. My eyes narrowed as I tried to see who it was. Skye stepped to the side, trying to get around him. But then he had the nerve to grab onto her arm in a bid to stop her. It was then I saw his face. In a flash I was on my feet and charging straight for them.

XXX

Skye:

"Back off Eddie." I warned, tugging my arm free from his arm.

"Oh c'mon baby, I'm trying to say sorry here." He again held out the glass of wine for me to take. My eyes narrowed suspiciously, recalling how Nina had said how she suspected him of spiking that other girl's drink. "Please have a drink with me. Just one drink and then I'll leave you alone if that's what you want."

"No." I said firmly. "Now please just leave me alone!"

Eddie opened his mouth to speak, but another voice cut over him.

"You heard what she said." My heart leapt as I heard Lucas. I glanced behind me and saw him walking toward us. "Or are you looking to go back in hospital?" He snarled.

He moved to stand protectively in front of me, separating me from Eddie.

"I was just offering her a drink." Eddie mumbled.

Lucas swiped the drink with his fist, sending it flying out of Eddie's hand and spilling all over the ground.

"She's pregnant you idiot!" He snapped.

Eddie gave me an oblivious look then. How had he not heard? Everyone was talking about it? And I was hardly trying to hide it anymore. Then his expression turned into its normal pervy self.

"I've never fucked a pregnant girl before." He commented thoughtfully.

Lucas nearly went for him then. It was only my hands latching onto his arm that prevented him from attacking Eddie.

"Lucas, don't!" I begged, not wanting him to get into anymore trouble. "Eddie just fuck off!" Eddie chuckled at me. As he glanced at Lucas, a look of fear passed across his eyes. Then he walked away, muttering profanities about me as he did. Lucas glared after him as he went; his body was tense. I just breathed a sigh of relief that he had shown some restraint unlike the previous time. Then I realised I was still clutching his sleeve. I quickly moved my hands back to my side and cleared my throat. "Urm...hi." I mumbled, not sure of what else to say.

Lucas glanced back at me.

"Hey." I smiled awkwardly. "Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"I saw he grabbed you. Did he hurt you?" Lucas asked, his voice serious.

I couldn't stop from smiling, enjoying seeing his concern.

"No. He didn't grab very hard. See." I held up my arm, showing there was no red mark. "I'm okay. Thanks for coming to my rescue again though."

Lucas nodded.

"Anytime."

I looked away from him.

"I can't believe you're here." I commented, looking around at the ball. "It doesn't really seem like your kind of scene." I remarked.

My eyes flicked back to Lucas as he chuckled.

"Y'know that's exactly what I said." I smirked. "You really do know me, don't you?" I blushed and dropped my gaze once more. "Sarah wanted to come." Lucas announced, finally answering my question.

I frowned back at him.

"Sarah?"

Lucas nodded.

"Yeah. Y'know the girl you saw in my house the other day...well that's Sarah. They released her from the hospital but on the condition she stays with someone." I blinked a couple of times, processing what Lucas was saying. I'd felt so jealous assuming he had moved on from me. Knowing that the girl was actually Sarah changed things...didn't it? He'd said before they were just friends. Yet he always seemed to be spending time with her. "So I offered my spare room."

My brows rose sharply.

"You're living together now?" I asked disbelievingly.

I'd never really had that honour with Lucas. Sure the plan had always been we'd get a house together, but life had always gotten in the way. It pissed me off that Sarah had been back in his life for a few weeks and already they were living together!

"Yeah. I couldn't turn her away. I'm her only friend here and she was desperate to get out." I pulled a face, feeling envy boil through my veins. "I'm sorry you found out the way you did."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"It ain't my business who you share your bed with." I muttered.

Lucas sighed.

"It's honestly not like that. Nothing is going on. She's in one room and I'm in the other."

Pain gripped my heart, but a small shred of me did feel guilt for instantly accusing him.

"Sorry." I mumbled. "I'm just crabby because all of the hormones." I explained, unconsciously rubbing my stomach as I spoke.

Lucas just raised his shoulders.

"It's okay. I guess it would look like that on the outside." I nodded my head slowly. "So are you enjoying this party?"

I frowned uncertainly, wondering why Lucas was continuing the conversation. It surely would have been easier on the both of us for us just to say our goodbyes and then go our separate ways.

"Urm...not really." I admitted. "I'm tired and achy and I can't drink anything so what's the point?"

Lucas frowned sympathetically.

"That must really suck." He agreed.

I nodded.

"Yeah, but I promised Tasha I'd give it a go. She wanted to get me out of the house for a bit."

Lucas scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"How have you been?" He asked softly.

I frowned, starting to feel a little irritated.

"What since you broke my heart?" I snapped. I could tell my words had slapped him right across the face – I hope it stung. I wanted him to feel the same despair I did. It wasn't fair that he could just dump me and not feel anything. "I should go." I muttered.

I moved to get around him, wanting to leave. I was definitely not in the party mood any longer.

"Skye wait..." Lucas instructed, reaching out for me.

I easily dodged his outstretched hand and put some space between us.

"Don't bother Lucas. You've made yourself clear already."

Turning abruptly, I stormed away from the scene. Lucas didn't even try to stop me; I guess he finally accepted he'd destroyed me enough.