Disclaimer: I don't own shit… again.

Papa Don't Preach

Chapter Ten: Living On A Prayer

Craig was in and out of his house in minutes, lugging a small bag filled with clothes and film for his camera which was already in the car, sitting on the front seat. He had the biggest smile I had ever seen plastered on his face. He was so happy, it made me want to burst in celebration for him. It made me want to celebrate for myself, because I've just realized happiness is contagious.

"Okay, now all we need to do is get your things," Craig plopped himself down the passengers side and ruffled my hair.

"Yes, captain," I smiled as I started the car and backed out of his driveway. I only lived a couple blocks away so it wasn't long until I was in and out of my room with some things. I also grabbed my stash of cash and my credit card just in case of an emergency. We were all set.

It was an hour before we said anything. It was still early morning and we were enjoying the scenery. It was beautiful, nothing like California. It had real trees.

"How do you plan on getting through the boarder?" Craig asked me, looking at me concerned.

I grinned. I already had that planned, "This is a note from my mom. At least I'm going to say it is. You're old enough to get through on your own."

"I am?" he questioned the fact. Then a light bulb went on over his head. "You're right, I am."

"I'm smarter than my brown hair appears me to look," I gave him a pouty look. "Don't you think I just look like a movie star?"

"You look better than a movie star," he put his index finger against my cheek. "You're the most gorgeous thing to walk the Earth."

I felt my face grow hot. "Whatever you say, captain."

"What's with the new nickname, 'Ana?" Craig bit on his bottom lip and turned down the blasting Canadian teen angst music. He looked angelic the way his hair was going in the wind, his eyes so soft you wanted to melt in his presence.

"It fits you," I playfully punched his arm, trying to keep my attention to the road. We were almost at the boarder and I had to get ready to act, something I wasn't so good at. But I'm determined to do it.

I turned the music back up, after changing it to some classic 80's music. I bobbed my head along to the new age rhythm of the sound and even thrust my hands in the air for a bit on a straight road, feeling the wind brush up against my skin. It felt good, almost like home, only without the salty breeze.

Signs for Detroit were soon surfacing. It was only a couple miles away.

"We're almost there," Craig pulled all my hair back into a ponytail in his hands, letting the air rush through my ears so quickly I could barely hear the music.

I pushed his hand away with a laugh, "I can't hear a goddamn thing when you do that! I'll go deaf!"

"Oh," he said sarcastically, "Well, we wouldn't want that to happen now would we?" He smiled and did it again. My mouth fell open in surprise as I pulled over to the side of the road.

"Stop that!" I smirked and lightly slapped him over the head. "I'm not ever gonna hear your beautiful voice again if you keep that up." I ruffled his hair with my fingers, combing out the knots that were given to him from being in a convertible for hours on end. He looked at me differently when I did that. Like he was seeing me for the first time.

"You're beautiful you know," he leaned in and kissed my cheek. "I know I've said this, but I just want to make sure you know it, cause I don't think you do."

"I know I'm beautiful," I somewhat lied a bit, turning pink, "I'm just not used to hearing it."

Craig nodded thoughtfully and put in my techno mix. Kylie Minogue's "Fever" boomed from my rear speakers. Craig and I started singing along, without even noticing we both knew the words. It ended with a big bang, which was just in time for customs.

"Hello sir," Craig waved to the man patrolling the boarder. He was around thrity-something, tall, buzz cut, looked like he could smash my car in a second. But unfortunately the trick was to look unafraid, not like someone that's about to be experimented on by an evil scientist.

"Passports please?" he acknowledged the fact that we existed very unusually. I think I am about to be experimented on.

Craig handed him his passport, as I did mine. He looked them over, checking our faces every so often.

"You're underage, do you have a letter from your legal guardian stating you may cross the boarder with this man?" he pointed at me and Craig, back and forth with every word. I gulped and said 'yeah' as I gave him my forged letter. I hope he couldn't see through me.

"What business brings you to the United States?" he asked, obviously buying the letter and handing us our passports.

"Vacation, Layana here's a citizen and we're going to see her family," Craig raised his eyebrows quickly at me and glanced back at the abnormally huge man standing next to us.

"Very well then, have a great time in the United States of America," he let us go, signaling the man in the booth to raise the bar separating us from the land of the free. I zoomed ahead, giggling insanely in the back of my head that I pulled it off. That was stopped though by a little voice inside my head telling me how much trouble I was going to be in when I got back.

But that doesn't matter, now I'm with Craig and we're going to see the baby. It's grand. And Detroit life is exactly how I like life to be.

A/N: To Miss Natalya. Yes, you are quite right, this is taken a bit in the future, but I really don't want to reveal their exact age for I myself are not sure, but I hope this chapter cleared some things up for you!