The residents of Summer Bay were quite bemused at the latest gossip to go round.  Alf wasn't sure what to make of Kirsty's pregnancy which Colleen had told him the previous day.  He suspected it was just a rumour, yet the absence of the Sutherlands from the community was a bit suspicious.

"What do you make of this new gossip?" he asked Leah in the diner.  "Do you think Colleens spouting rubbish again?"

"Well I don't know, " she said, as she spooned some meatballs into a bowl.  "The Sutherlands are pretty quiet, and Kirsty running away that time was a bit suspect."

"I wonder who the father is."

"Wonder no further, " said an arriving Colleen.  "I saw that girl back home, her parents chucked her out, and she got into Kane Phillips' car.  They were cavorting like anything, honestly, after what he did to her sister."

Alf's facial expression changed.  "Now I hope you've got your facts straight Colleen, I know how you love to assume things."

"Oh they are straight, I heard shouting last night like you wouldn't believe.  Kirsty Sutherland is pregnant with Kane Phillips' baby."  Alf tried to clamp his hand over her mouth, to no avail.  People had heard and were talking in hushed voices.

"Now I bet the Sutherlands don't appreciate you telling everyone."

"Telling everyone what?"  Jade, Seb and Nick had just entered the diner.

"Telling everyone what an irresponsible sister you have, " finished Colleen.  "Honestly, you'll be next, it's a curse I tell you!"

"We don't have to eat here, " said Nick, who'd been told the news ,this morning.  The three of them went outside silently.

"They were looking at me like I was scum, " said Jade.  "It's all Kirsty's fault yet again."

"Yeah, " said Seb.  "Where is she now?"

"Probably with him."

"Kane?" said Nick.  "Who would've thought she could do something like that."

"Yeah.  I kept telling her how stupid she was."  Nicks expression changed hearing Seb's answer.

"You knew?"

"I found out, I couldn't tell anyone.  I promised."

"Like that helped Seb, " said Jade.  " We could have avoided all of this if you'd said this before.  You're such a loser."  Jade stormed off, leaving Nick staring at Seb in disgust.

***

Meanwhile, Kirsty was unpacking her things into Kane's house.  It was quite tidy for a man living on his own temporarily, but the décor was hardly Kirsty's idea of modern.

"We've got to sort this place out Kane, " she said. 

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's a bit dated."

"Well it is my aunts.  I wanna move out someday."

"That'd be nice for the baby, " said Kirsty.  "It can have a nursery."

"We need to talk.  My job wont support the three of us, and I doubt my aunt will let us live here."

"Well we'll move out.  I can get a job for a few months."

"They won't hire you, plus it's dangerous."

"I could always tap into the college fund my parents have.  Or my grandparents will lend me money.  I'll need to go to college part time to get my HSC too."

"But who'll look after the baby?  We can't afford nursery."

"You'll have to stagger your shifts.  I'll get my HSC, get a job and we can have a better life."

"It doesn't work like that, " shouted Kane.  "It'll be too much work, we hardly have any support.  You'll have to stay at home."

"We won't have enough money, plus I don't want to be a housewife type.  I'm young."

"Young people don't do this."

"What are you saying?  Don't you want this baby?"  Kirsty stormed off into the bathroom, and locked the door, crying.  She wasn't sure if she was emotional because of the baby, or because of Kane's reluctance.  Kane banged on the door,

"Let me in Kirsty, don't be so angry.  We can talk to Flynn about our options.  We'll go tomorrow, just come out."

"No!"

"I do want this baby more than anything, " Kane said through the door.  "If it can make me as happy as you've made me then I'm all for it.  I know you should hate me, I should hate me, but you don't.  That's why I love you, all of you."  Kirsty opened the door, and fell into Kane's arms, crying.

"You do want it?"

"Of course I do.  We'll talk to him tomorrow, maybe we can get benefits or something."

Kirsty stopped crying, "You're great Kane Phillips, you really are."