I don't know how, but Emmett had somehow managed to get most of my classes. When I had first realized it, I had been upset. I could take care of myself. But after my first day at Carlton, I was thankful for his support. Going to a school with a built in support system was wonderful.

If I passed by her office, Melody asked how I was doing, and how I was feeling. She checked to make sure the extra work I was taking on wasn't too much. Emmett didn't act much different in school, and for that I was thankful.

Daphne was my body guard.

It was only a week into the semester, and she had already gotten into a few arguments on my behalf. The first time was at lunch, and she had gotten distracted, staring over to the side. Something had set her off, and she had gone charging at a group of girls, her signing fast and angry. I only caught a few words; sister, pregnant, nephew, things that made it obvious she was defending me against some comment.

Despite the comments having followed me from school to school, I liked it better here. If I caught someone talking about me, I could just look away, and I would never know what they said. I felt like I was getting a taste of what Emmett and Daphne felt like in a hearing world.

His friends seemed torn on how to treat me. If I were anyone else, I'm sure they would have hated me. I'm sure they still did a little bit. But because I was pregnant with Emmett's baby, they treated me fairly decently. I'm not sure if it was something they had decided on their own, or if Emmett had spoken to them about it beforehand.

I seemed to be an exception, however. The other pilot kids seemed to always be in a fight with the deaf students. It wasn't long until there was a mandatory retreat.

Melody was the one planning the trip, so when I found myself on the bus, I wasn't too upset. I knew that she would take care of my needs. And with Emmett and Daphne coming along as well, I found myself oddly looking forward to it.

"What do you think we're going to end up doing?"

Emmett shrugged slightly. 'Knowing my mom, probably team building stuff.'

"You think she'll let us be in a group?"

'I think she'll pick the groups, so it's a 50/50 shot. I kind of doubt it though. Building new relationships and all.'

I nodded slightly and leaned against him. We didn't talk much more, staring out the window as the bus drove on. At some point he slid his arm behind me, lightly rubbing my lower back.

...

Melody didn't put us together in a group. I was disappointed, but at the same time, I guess I understood. She couldn't give special treatment when she was trying to get something done.

For our first exercise, we were put in groups of 5. I was with Natalie, Daphne, and two others. Natalie and I were together, waiting for the runners to tell us what we were doing.

I turned to her. 'So what do you think the retreat is supposed to accomplish?'

She rolled her eyes. 'Don't talk to me.'

I frowned slightly. 'What?'

She turned to me, her face set in a glare. 'Look, when Emmett's around, he tells me to behave. But guess what? He's not here. And I don't have to tolerate you. I can't believe you got knocked up to keep him.'

Well, there was the confirmation that Emmett had spoken to his friends. I guess being pregnant was just an offense on top of being in the pilot program.

"Excuse me?" I forgot to sign, to angry to even say more than that.

'You invade my school and expect me to like you just because you're pregnant? How desperate are you?'

The voice in my head telling me to calm down was shrinking by the second, and I felt myself take a step toward her. 'Because being pregnant in high school is so easy. Yeah, I totally did it on purpose.'

'You didn't have to drag Emmett into it. How do we know it's even his?'

'I wasn't going to! Daphne told him.'

'So if it is, you were going to keep him from his kid? That's so much better. You are such a bitch.'

Before I quite realized that I was moving, I shoved her. I turned away while she stumbled back and I started to walk away, to hopefully find Emmett. I was halted when my hair was tugged, and I fell back.

"Ow! What the hell?" I scrambled to get back up and turned to Natalie. I pushed my sleeves up and was starting to walk toward her again, but was held back.

I turned, ready to fight still, but stopped when I saw Emmett. I'm not sure how he knew to come, who told him, or if he had just seen what was happening, but I was grateful for him all the same. I wasn't able to stop the tears from coming to my eyes. "She thinks I should have left you out of the baby stuff because she doesn't think he's yours."

His head snapped up to look at Natalie, and I took his distraction as a chance to pull away and make my way back to the cabins. I quickly found Melody.

"Where am I sleeping?"

'Whoa, hey, are you alright? What happened?'

"I got in a fight. She kept saying things about me, and the baby, and I shoved her, and she pulled my hair and I would just really like to sit down and be alone right now."

'Hey, hey, who?' She reached out and lightly held my shoulders, her eyes full of concern.

"It doesn't matter. I just... Where do I go?"

'Ok. Come on, I'll show you. I put you and Emmett together.' She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led the way to a cabin, going inside and opening a door to one of the rooms. 'I'll send Emmett here.'

"Ok... Thank you, Melody."

She nodded and gently shut the door between us. I laid on the bed and worked on calming down.

Is that really what people were thinking of me? That I had gotten pregnant to 'keep' Emmett? Why did they think we broke up to begin with? Did they think that the baby wasn't really his? What other rumors were flying around?

The door opened and Emmett came in. 'Hey. Are you alright?'

"I don't know. Did you know that's what people thought."

His hesitation was answer enough.

"And here I thought Carlton would be better."

'It will be. We just have to set the record straight.' He laid beside me. 'Mom said you didn't have to do anything else today.'

"And have them come up with more to say about me? No, I'm doing the next team thing."

'You do remember that you're 27 weeks pregnant, right?'

I rolled my eyes. "Am I? I forgot. It does explain the belly thing, though."

He smiled slightly and shook his head, giving me a quick peck. 'Ready to face them again, then?'

"Not at all. Let's go."

...

When Melody paired me with Natalie for the partner project, I heard a collective intake of breath. Word had clearly gotten around about earlier.

When we were called to give our lists, it immediately had a bad start.

"She's a bully."

'She's entitled.'

"She's petty."

'She's selfish.'

Melody waved her arms. 'Ok, ok, let's try again. With positive things this time.'

I stood and glared at Natalie, searching for something to fit the bill.

"She's... proud."

'Passionate.'

"Fierce."

'She's a good mom.'

That stopped me cold. A good mom? How could she know if I was a good mom if I didn't even know? With Regina and Kathryn to live up to, I was going to end up being a crappy mom. I hadn't even really accepted I was pregnant until recently.

Before I could question her, Melody was talking.

'Good! Much better! You can take your seats. I think it's time fore some s'mores.'

I was in the middle of making one-my craving for sweets had finally come back with a vengeance-when Natalie came to sit by me.

'Emmett showed me pictures of the walls. You know, for the nursery? And I see you at lunch. You read the ingredients on everything, and then look it up on your phone. And there's those headphones you put on your stomach when you think no one's watching. You care a lot. You're already a good mom.'

Tears sprung to my eyes. "Thank you."

'I'm sorry. About earlier. It's just that Emmett was crushed when you guys broke up, and suddenly when you're together again, you're pregnant? It was fishy. But... Emmett explained what happened. That he... Anyway. I'm sorry.'

"Thank you. I'm sorry I shoved you."

She shrugged slightly. 'I deserved it. Sorry for the hair.'

"I deserved it."

'Nah. You're pregnant. I shouldn't have done that.'

"Thanks."

She shrugged and took a bite out of her s'more.

Ok, so I know that this chapter is heavily episode based, but I started doing some website design at midnight, and didn't stop until 6am, so now it's 9 and I'm exhausted. This chapter is kind of for the internal doubts and whatnot, and it seemed strange just saying that Natalie instantly accepted her. So... here you go.