Chapter 16: A Serious Talk

Spinelli awoke with a headache. 'I shouldn't have drunken so much last night.' Spinelli thought. She tried to get up but then realized that an arm was around her. Spinelli kept her eyes shut and felt around her hips. Her clothes were still there but that did mean anything with the dress she was wearing. Still it was reassuring. However still too afraid to open her eyes lest she see a blood stained sheet.

Desperately Spinelli tried to recall last night's events, which was hard since she had been intoxicated. Spinelli did remember having dinner and that there had been lots of wine. Too much really. She did remember falling asleep against TJ…

Spinelli's mind stopped and she could feel her blood rushing to her cheeks at the thought. But hopefully THAT didn't happen as much as Spinelli knew she would have enjoyed it. She wanted to be able her first time with TJ.

Spinelli shook her head and heard to ruffling of her hair on clothing. The person she was resting on had a shirt on which was a good sign. Slowly Spinelli got up and finally opened her eyes to look at the person she had obviously slept on.

There TJ lay, right on the edge of the bed. Spinelli couldn't help but look at his face. He had a peaceful expression on his face and his brown hair was all meshed up like it was in the old days when he would keep his hair tame under his red cap.

That red cap, TJ had stopped wearing it in the start of high school. Spinelli often wondered why it had disappeared from her life like TJ gradually did in high school. She liked that hat.

Caught up in her thoughts Spinelli had absent mindedly leaned forwards and was playing with TJ's hair, twirling a brown lock around one finger, her face mere inches from his.

TJ's eye suddenly opened and in a flash TJ had an arm around Spinelli's neck, his hand over her mouth and a gun against her head that he had procured from God knows where.

Spinelli was too frightened to even try t scream. It had happened all so fast but in that brief moment before it all happened Spinelli had seen into TJ's eyes. They were cold, distance and fearful eyes.

TJ opened his eyes and saw a face in front of his. He didn't take the time to look close to it; if he did his training told him he would be dead. Hesitation was the main cause of death in the forces. TJ acted on instinct, putting whoever it was into a hold with one arm as he got out his gun from his pants and placed the barrel against the unknown person. However it only took TJ a moment to realize that the person he was holding was not an enemy. He had to calm down.

"Sorry Spin. It was just that you surprised me and I reacted on instinct. Sorry." TJ said as he put his handgun aside and taking a deep breath to calm himself. Only the sound of Spinelli's own breathing and his occupied the still air. After a few moments TJ took his gun and left the room.

It was a bad start to a day. He had things to do, people to see but first he had to get some coffee and calm down. He hadn't had his six hours of sleep and had a bit of a hangover. It had all been a dream that he had had. It was a long time ago when that took place. And why have that dream, no nightmare, today of all days? Deciding not to dwell on such distasteful thoughts TJ went to his old room and finished unpacking before hopping in the shower.

The sunlight poured in through the single window in Vince's room and emulated Gretchen's face. She looked so peaceful as she was lying there in his embrace. Her hair seemed to radiate out in a disc around her head, all in a bit of a tangle from last night's passionate love making. Even first thing in the morning Gretchen looked like and angel to Vince and he liked the feeling of having her body against his first thing in the morning.

Gretchen moaned and shifted around a little. The contact of her soft skin against his sent tingles up and down his spine. Gretchen blinked a few times to let here eyes adjust to the light and looked back behind her into Vince's dark eyes that were looking back at hers.

"Morning, sweetheart." Vince murmured as he muzzled the clef of her neck.

"Morning honey." Gretchen said before letting out a small content sigh. She was happy. She had her man, she was pregnant with his child and nothing could bring her down from feeling like queen of the world.

"You were great last night. Thank you." Vince said.

"Vince, you don't have to thank me. It was my pleasure, so I should be thanking you." Gretchen said with a sly grin. Vince returned the smile, drew Gretchen closer to him and kissed her softly on the mouth.

After breaking the kiss Vince and Gretchen just lay in bed, content to be in each others loving embrace.

Downstairs in the kitchen TJ was reading the morning paper while having his coffee. Gus and Mikey were still out since they had been completely drunk last night and now had the world's largest hangovers. TJ could testify as to how much they had drunk between the two of them, TJ had paid the bill. It was worth it though. Whoever knew that Gus could out drink even Mikey?

Spinelli cautiously walked into the kitchen. She knew TJ was there but what had her nervous was the outfit she had on. It was a simple one really. Spaghetti strap top with blue and yellow stripes on it and a pink skirt that was short, but not short enough to be a called a miniskirt.

She was planning on making pancakes for TJ's breakfast, the one thing she could make better than Gretchen.

Walking into the kitchen Spinelli got out a few ingredients before she got up the courage to face TJ and ask him if he wanted some breakfast. Her normal feelings towards him combined with last night cozy arrangement and this morning's incident made it a bit harder to face him.

"Would you like some pancakes for breakfast, TJ?" Spinelli asked in what she hoped was a cheerful voice.

A simple "That would be nice" was the response. Sighing quietly to herself Spinelli went through the motions of making breakfast for TJ and the rest of the gang while two thoughts revolved around each other. One was an old one, the simple question of "When will TJ notice me?" The second was a new one; "What had unnerved TJ?" Surprisingly Spinelli found that the thought of TJ being scared appealing to her because it meant that perhaps she could protect and comfort TJ from whatever it was that was bothering him.

TJ sat taking sips from his cup of joe. 'They're not at it again are they? I have people to see, things to do apart from talking to them. It's 0813 for crying out loud!' Despite himself TJ snuck a peek at Spinelli as she made breakfast. She looked wonderful in the outfit she had one. It wasn't too revealing and if TJ didn't know better she was trying to get his attention. She normally didn't dress that way. 'Stop daydreaming. She could have changed her taste in dress. You haven't seen her in nearly 4 years. Plus you know you can't.'

TJ got back to reading his paper but his mind wandered again. This time he was thinking about how nice it was to have Spinelli making a meal for him. He hadn't had a real good home cooked meal in a long time. It was nice thought to have, Spinelli making breakfast for him and possibly some kids. 'Focus. Kids is what you are gonna talk about to Vince and Gretchen.'

As if on cue Vince and Gretchen walked in the kitchen, Vince with embracing Gretchen from behind muttering sweet things into her ear. That was obvious from the blushing and cooing back Gretchen was giving Vince.

"You know, you two were pretty loud last night." TJ said deadpan. The comment caught Vince and Gretchen so completely off guard it took them a moment to realize what TJ was talking about. Before they could respond TJ put down the paper and looked at them.

"Sit."

Gretchen and Vince did with curious looks on their faces.

"You too, Spin. This could be useful to you too. Hopefully you won't do something stupid like these two did." TJ called over his shoulder to Spinelli.

"Hey, man. What's with all the attitude?" Vince asked in a voice that was a little tight.

"Do you know how much it costs to raise a child?" TJ asked in a very serious tone. He directed his gaze directly at Vince.

"No." Vince had to answer truthfully.

Gretchen and Spinelli shook their heads no when TJ's looked at them in turn.

"$250,000. A quarter of a million is the average cost of raising a child from 0 to 18 in this country. Both of you are still in school. Gretchen, you'll have to drop out, the baby will most likely be born before the end of the year so you can't graduate then. And Vince, how do you expect to support and pregnant woman now let a lone a family? Sure you can get a job now but that means you can't graduate either. If you get a job later you still will have to get the money to live off of until then plus there's all the new expenses. Maternity clothes, the extra food for Gretchen, standard living costs besides and the medical bills. And have either of you informed you parents?" TJ asked forcefully. He knew he was being a bit unkind but that was the way the world was. Plus he didn't want his friends to have to have problems at such a young age. They didn't have the large financial resources that he did. And TJ knew neither of their parents would smile upon of help them out too much, as they were very conservative.

"Wow, I didn't think of all that. Oh my god Gretch, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Vince said to Gretchen. He was appalled with himself. How could he have done this to her? Why hadn't he thought of using a condom or seeing if Gretchen was on the pill or something? Now her dreams of a career in science were shattered. Plus TJ was right, where and how would he get the money?

"No, Vince, I should be sorry too. We were both there that night." Gretchen turned to face Vince and cupped his face with both her hands. "We'll manage somehow. I'm sure we'll manage." Gretchen sniffed out with tears falling down her face.

"Enough of this. I'm just making you aware of this so you both know you will owe me big thing. Here," TJ took out his wallet and tossed a credit card on the table. "Take it."

Vince took a look at card and then at TJ. "TJ, we can't." "Thank you for the offer but we'll manage." Gretchen said quietly.

"Then take it for the baby. No kid should have to have a rougher childhood then need be." TJ got up and headed for the door. Once at the doorframe he stopped a moment and looked back over his shoulder to see Gretchen sitting in Vince's lap, the card in his hand, and both of them talking quietly to themselves. "One last thing."

Vince and Gretchen looked up at him; both of their eyes were watery from tears.

"I call Godfather." TJ said with a smile before walking out.

The sound of soft laughter carried to the front door where TJ pause a moment to arrange his thoughts. He had things to do, people to see. He had to get started on remodeling the old fort and then he had to go and see a certain young lady in the city center.

There, 4 pages of writing. So, who is TJ visiting? You'll have to wait and see! Plus none of you will ever guess the relation between TJ and the mystery person! Plus sorry for the long wait, I had a AP Bio trip to Bangkok, Thailand and was unable to write.

PS. major moral in this chapter if you haven't noticed. Have safe sex and use your heads. It really does cost a quarter million to raise a kid. Any who, JUBJUB, to all of you and review. Don't worry if you don't get the last comment.