Kirsty could feel her jeans getting tighter by the day, and had started to cover up wearing Kane's shirts, hardly the height of fashion, but totally functional.

"I'll have to get maternity clothes soon, " said Kirsty, as they travelled to the drop-in centre.  "Perhaps Leah could lend me hers, if she's not too traumatised by Colleens gossip."

Kane laughed, "She's gonna love seeing me isn't she. She nearly died when she saw me at your house."  Kirsty smiled.  She hadn't been back to the bay in days, but no doubt everyone was talking about her. 

"I'm gonna be public enemy number one, " she sighed.  "I bet Jade's turned Seb and Nick against me."

"I'll be right behind you, all the way."  Kirsty rested her hand on Kane's knee, her head on his shoulder.  Was he really joking when he said he'd make an honest woman of her?  They approached the familiar setting of Summer Bay soon enough, and drove into the drop-in centre car park.  Kirsty noticed her mothers car was parked.

"Great.  Mum's here, " she said as she got out the car.  "Another lecture."

"I think another ones heading our way."  Kane gestured to an angry Josh, storming towards them.

"What do you think you're doing?  Are you trying to work your way through the family?"

"Leave it Josh, " said Kirsty.

"You make me sick.  Both of you.  After what he did to Dani, how could you do that?  How can you even be near him?"

Kane was silent.  The same thoughts were being brought to the surface.  He felt uneasy; Kirsty could hardly stand up for him after what he'd done.

"See?  He can't even talk."

"Leave it Josh, just leave it, " Kirsty struggled to keep the peace.  "We're only here to see Flynn, we don't want any trouble."

"I'm not the one who's trouble, he is.  He raped my girlfriend, your sister.  How can you forgive him?"

Kirsty was speechless.  She suddenly thought that anything she could say in Kane's defence would sound stupid.  She couldn't deny it, because it was true.  "He's a different person to me, " she said weakly.  "Let's go Kane."  Kane followed Kirsty meekly, avoiding eye contact with Josh.  He had every reason to hate him.

The couple walked silently into the drop-in centre, and waited patiently for Flynn to appear.  Inevitably, Shelley approached them, while going to their lunch break.

"Hi Kirsty.  Kane.  How are you?"

"Fine, " replied Kirsty bluntly.

"Did you want to talk?"

"Actually we wanted to see Flynn."

"Oh."  Shelley put on a brave face.  "I'm always here if you want to talk, you could come home, we still love you no matter what."

"That's nice."

"I'll see you then."  Shelley felt slightly flat as she left the drop-in centre.  Her family was in ruins.

Flynn came out of his office.  "Hi Kirsty.  Kane.  This is a surprise."

"We wanted to talk to you.  About our options after the baby is born.  I'd like to get my HSC at some point."

"Come into my office."  Kirsty and Kane sat down on the two chairs inside Flynn's office, slightly awkward.  "How are you both?"

"Oh, you know.  Surviving, " said Kirsty.  "We wanted to know what I could do about education, when the baby's born.  I'd like to get my HSC."

"Well I do know that there's a school for young mothers.  Your baby would stay in a nursery while you study, and you'd pay a small fee.  I think there's one in Melbourne.  You'd have to move."

"That's fine, " said Kirsty, not waiting for Kane's reply. 

"I could put you in touch with social services.  You may need income support.  How do you both feel about the baby?"

"I'm really looking forward to it, apart from the fact we've become local gossip."

"And how do you feel Kane?"

"Excited I guess, " he said, indifferently.  "A bit worried for the future.  Money and stuff."  

"And you're sure you're having it for the right reasons?"

"Definitely," said Kirsty.  "A welcome surprise."

"Well I could send you some booklets about the school, and income support, but I really feel you need to make peace with your family."

"Oh here we go again, " said Kirsty.  "The baby-killing brigade."

"I think you all need to talk, you can't live separately from them forever.  What about when the baby grows up and doesn't know it's family, or why they don't like its father?  What if you fall out of love, and you end up on your own? You want to end the animosity now, before it's too late."

"Like that's gonna happen.  They're just 'what if's'.  Kane and the baby are the only family I need, no one else, and we're totally in love.  It was nice talking to you, but we really have to go."  Kirsty got up, followed by Kane.  She slipped her hand into his.

"You were a bit quiet in there."

"Yeah.  I was just thinking about what they all said.  Josh, Flynn, all of them.  Do you really want to stay with me after what I did?"

"I wouldn't be here, defending you if I didn't, " said Kirsty squeezing his hand tighter.  "Wait here."

Kirsty went back into Flynn's office.  "By the way, where's that letter you 'forgot' to give Kane?  I'd like him to read it."

Flynn silently got the letter out of his drawer, and gave it to her.  "I'm sorry, I didn't think it was a good idea."

 "Save it for your next lecture. " Kirsty cam out of Flynn's office, and handed the letter to Kane.  "Read this.  I think it sums up how I feel about you."

Kane opened the letter and was silent for a few moments.  It could have moved him to tears, the way she wrote.  "It's great Kirsty."  He put the letter in his pocket, and put his arms around his girlfriend.  "I am going to take you out to lunch."

"Are you sure we can afford it?"

"I think we can stretch to a meal at the diner."

"The diner?  Are you sure?  With everyone there?"

"We've got to face them sometime, " said Kane.  "We can't hide away forever, we've got to show them that our love is real and we're serious about each other."

"The diner it is then, " said Kirsty, half worried, half excited.