"What do I think about what?" Craig asked, shocked, letting Manny's hand go.
"Abortion. Not that I want one," Manny added quickly. "Just in general."
Craig shook his head. "I dunno. In general, I'm not really against them but in this case, I really am. Manny, you can't abort our baby."
"I'm not going to!" Manny insisted. "I just suddenly thought about it. How much easier just…everything would be, you know? We could still be together just without the baby. We could worry about that later on. When we're really ready."
Craig stopped walking and stared at her. "You're really thinking about this aren't you? I-I thought we agreed that we were going to have the baby and face up to our responsibilities. Please, you can't--"
"Craig, I don't want to give up this baby," Manny told him firmly. "I just was wondering about it, that's all." She tugged his hand and they continued walking. "This way can be okay too. I don't think I would be able to live with the guilt anyway."
Craig felt slightly relieved but kept glancing at Manny out of the corner of his eye as they waited for Spike to arrive, still a bit worried.
Manny arrived home that day just as Emma was getting out of school. Spike had taken her out for lunch and they talked about what had happened. Now as Manny walked up the path to the front door, Emma stood there, fiddling with her keys. She turned upon hearing Manny and her mother approaching.
"Hey," she said, glancing quickly at Manny. "How did everything go?"
"Fine," Spike replied. She looked back and forth between the two girls then stepped forward to unlock the door. "I'm going inside. You two are staying out here and talking." With that she shut the door firmly behind her. Manny heard the lock click in place.
"Gee, what a great mom I have, locking me out of my own house," Emma muttered. She sighed and turned to Manny. "Look, I don't want to be in a fight with you, especially now."
"Me neither," Manny agreed. Both girls went to sit on the long swing that hung from the front porch. "But you hurt me a lot yesterday."
"I know I did. It didn't come out the way I meant it. I wasn't saying that I was on Ashley's side or that what she did was right. It was just that I understood why she did it."
"Yeah I know. I guess a part of me was just realizing that my slut attack was the reason why all this happened. But now I'm kind of seeing a silver lining." She proceeded to explain what had happened that morning with Craig.
"Well that's good. I'm glad he came around," Emma said.
Manny reached into her bag suddenly and pulled out the sonogram. "This is the baby."
Emma took it and studied it. "Wow. Uh, where is it?"
Manny smiled. "Right there." She pointed it out and let her finger linger on the image for a second.
"Oh. Wow, that's amazing." Emma handed it back to her. "Do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?"
"It's too early to tell. I'm kinda hoping for a girl but we'll see." Manny leaned her head against her best friend's shoulder as they rocked gently. "Is it really going to be as hard as they say it is?"
"I don't know. My mom told me it was hard but she didn't have the father to help her. I guess it's different for every case."
"I just don't want this baby to have a miserable life just because I'm an idiot," Manny said, rubbing her stomach. "I want to give it all that I can but there's things I want to do too."
"Well, I know my mom will try to help you as much as she can."
"Yeah but she's busy with Snake and baby Jack. She's got enough on her mind. I wonder if Joey will help us out any." Manny played with the string on her jacket.
Emma shrugged. "Probably. He's pretty cool."
"I just…I just wish my parents had been more supportive." Manny sighed. "Then again, I didn't exactly expect them to throw me a baby shower or anything."
"Well, you have me," Emma told her. "And now Craig." She chuckled slightly. "Maybe what Cher and Sonny sang about was true."
Manny didn't smile. "I sure hope so."
The months seemed to fly by. The end of the school year approached and the weather warmed. Manny's stomach grew and with it so did her worries. She had dismissed the idea of an abortion but still spent most of her time trying to figure out what kind of future she and the baby would have. Craig on the other hand was growing more and more excited about the prospect of having his own family. Joey agreed to turn his office into a nursery for the baby. They had toyed with the idea of using Angela's room but decided against it. They weren't quite ready to change anything in her room yet.
The gossip at school seemed to have died down and while some people had stopped talking to them, most of their friends were supportive. A baby shower was thrown in their honor in Mr. Simpson's classroom and they received tons of diapers, baby clothes, toys and other things that would be useful to them. It was at times like these, Manny forgot all her worries and was just as happy as Craig was about the baby.
Manny went back home to discover that her parents really had cooled down. They were still upset over what had happened but forgave her. They had a long emotional talk and her parents agreed to help as much as they could.
Finally the school year was over. Craig and Joey spent many days and nights working on the nursery, putting up yellow wallpaper and setting up Angela's old crib. Craig and Manny were together often, discussing baby names and what sex the baby would be, as they had decided to wait until the birth to find out.
A week before Manny's due date, Craig decided to take her some place special. Joey dropped them off at the cemetery early that evening. Craig took Manny's hand and led her over to a grassy area where two tombstones were close together, one slightly smaller than the other.
"I know you already saw them at Ange's funeral," Craig said, kneeling. "But I just wanted us to see them again before our baby is born."
Manny smiled down at him, leaning against a nearby tomb.
Craig turned to his mother's grave. "Hey, mom. I know it's been a long time since I've visited but I've been real busy. I'm going to be a dad! I hope you're not mad. I know I acted a foolishly but it's okay now. Manny's wonderful and we're going to be really happy." He looked up at Manny with his eyes shining. "She would love you. Just like I do. Well not just like I do…" He grinned.
Manny leaned over to kiss him on the lips. Just as the kiss was deepening, she pulled away.
"What?"
She didn't answer instead started laughing with her eyes wide.
Craig stood up. "What's so funny?"
She caught her breath. "My water just broke."
"WHAT?"
Still grinning, Manny nodded.
"How is that funny?" Craig cried, as he looked around frantically, trying to figure out what to do.
"I think I'm having one of those moments where something is so totally unfunny that you can't help but laugh at it," Manny replied. She pointed. "Go call Joey."
"Right." Craig dashed across the street to the payphone then turned and ran back to Manny. "I don't have any change."
"Call collect!" Manny cried.
"Right!" Struggling to breathe, Craig hurried back to the payphone and dialed with shaking fingers. When Joey answered, he could barely speak. "J-joey! Baby! Now! Hurry!"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down, Craig. What's going on?"
"Manny! Baby!" Craig was still having difficulty forming complete sentences. "She's having it!"
"Now? Right now? At the cemetery?"
"Yes! HURRY!" Craig slammed down the phone then raced back to Manny, narrowly avoiding being hit by two cars. She was now sitting on the grass, holding her stomach.
"Joey's on his way!"
"I think we have some time," Manny told him.
Craig knelt next to her, rubbing her back. "Breathe! Heehee whooo."
Manny suppressed a laugh. "It's okay, Craig. I'm not having contractions yet."
"Okay, sorry, I'm just kind of in crazy mode right now. Not used to this." Craig broke out into a grin. "Oh my God, the baby's really coming! Our baby's almost here!"
"I know." Manny squeezed his hand. All of her previous doubts flew out of her mind. She really wanted this baby.
They both jumped at the sound of a horn honking and squealing tires. There was a loud screech and Joey's red convertible pulled up next to the curb. He looked breathless and there were several angry drivers making gestures at him before driving away. He was waving frantically at them. "GET IN! COME ON!"
Craig and Manny looked at each other.
"Guess Joey's craziness rubbed off on you," Manny remarked.
