NEW CHAPTER! Yay for me! My writer's block is gone! Hope you all like this chapter. I've been getting some comments that the story is a little confusing in some areas. I tried to make things a little clearer. If anyone has anything else they're confused about-or any comments or suggestions that they would like to share PLEASE let me know! Seriously, I know everyone wants to be nice, but then I never know if I'm doing anything wrong, and then it will never get fixed. So if you have anything you would like me to clarify/change please let me know. Hope you like the chapter!

"When were you gonna tell me about your grandparents?" She asked coldly.

"Shh...she's sleeping...wait-how did you find out? -just hold on...I'll go put her down" He rolled the stroller into the bedroom.

When he came out, Madison was sitting on the couch.

"Did you talk to Delia or something?" Ephram asked.

Madison shook her head, "No worse...your dad...he called and told me his master plan"

"Lucky you" Ephram said sarcastically as he sat down next to her.

"So why didn't you tell me?" She looked over at him.

"I don't know...I was going to...but I figured I would just ignore it...let him deal with them"

"Yeah but Ephram...once they find out they're just gonna come here and then you're gonna have to deal with them" Madison reasoned.

Ephram sighed, "Well...I never really thought that far..."

"Obviously" She responded.

Ephram's eyes widened. He turned towards Madison, "You should come with me!"

Madison looked at him strangely, "What?! Ephram are you crazy?!"

Ephram nodded, "Probably...but think about it...I mean, everything would be out in the open...and it's not like my dad could deny it when we're standing right there...and wouldn't you just love to see his face when he sees us standing on the doorstep?"

Madison smiled, "That would be a true Kodak moment"

"Besides...I have to go back down there for finals anyway...Just think about it...we don't have to decide anything right now..."

Madison nodded, "Ok...I'll think about it...wait finals? For how long?"

Ephram shook his head, "I dunno...like 2 days, they're only a couple days before graduation so the timing should work out ok...unless we're killed before then"

"But what about your teachers and everything...don't you think they're gonna ask why you've been MIA for the past 2 weeks?"

Ephram thought about this for a second, "Maybe...but I'm a second semester senior...I mean they pretty much expect us to miss the last couple weeks of school...I'm sure I'm not the only one"

Madison brought her feet up on the couch and turned towards him, "well...while we're on the subject of school...what about college?"

Ephram's stomach felt like it was turned inside out. He hadn't even thought about college. He was supposed to go to the Manhattan School of Music in the fall. Now what was he supposed to do?

Madison noticed the blank expression on his face. "Ephram?" She waved her hand in front of him to get his attention, "Ephram? You there?"

Ephram quickly shook his head, "yeah...uh sorry..."

Madison looked at him curiously, "So are you gonna answer my question?"

Ephram put his face in his hands, "well...I don't really know the answer"

"Well, first of all...where are you going?" she asked.

Ephram looked away, "Manhattan"

"Manhattan? Manhattan as in Julliard?" She asked. Why hadn't Ephram told her about this?

Ephram shook his head, "No-no not Julliard...The Manhattan School of Music...it's a private school...in...well I guess the name sorta speaks for itself"

Madison looked away, "wow...New York...that's pretty major"

Ephram looked at her, "Yeah...I know...that's why I'm not going" Ephram didn't even have to think about his decision, he knew that he couldn't leave.

Madison looked at him, stunned, "W-whoa-wow-wait Ephram you can't do that! This is college! College...as in you're future!"

Ephram sighed, "I know...but I can't go to New York...maybe I could go to a community college or something...isn't there one around here? I could go to night classes...or maybe I'll just take the year off? A lot of people do that right? It's normal. Then maybe next year I'll go to Colorado State...or Colorado University...that's close-I got in there...I'm sure I could get in next year too"

Madison put her hand on his shoulder, but then quickly removed it when she realized what it might imply. "Ephram-wait a second...this is a huge thing...you can't just decide to take the year off in 2 seconds! Look...if you really want to go to this New York school then...well maybe we can work something out...or maybe that community college thing would work...I mean, we need to really think about this. I don't want you to just throw away everything you've worked for!"

"I'm not! But I can't go to New York...It-it's just not an option...and if I take a year off-I mean...maybe I could get a job or something...maybe we could get a bigger place, then once we get used to this whole situation, I'll start school again..."

Madison shook her head, "I don't know..."

Ephram looked Madison in the eye, "It's gonna be ok...don't worry about it"

Madison looked at Ephram. He really wanted to stay. He was going to give up New York for Julia. That meant something. It made her love him even more-no-she couldn't. She had to stop thinking like this! It couldn't happen. Not now anyway. Not when everything is already 10 times more complicated. She quickly looked away to prevent herself from kissing him right then and there.

The next couple days went by as usual. They stuck to the routine, both trying not to get too close to the other. Every time they got less than 2 feet away from each other, one, or both would quickly move away and pretend not to notice. It was getting worse each day.

Soon it was time to go back to Everwood. Ephram called his dad and told him he was coming, but purposely left out that he was bringing some guests.

The car ride to Everwood was silent. Julia was asleep in the back and Ephram was driving. Madison kept playing with the radio.

Ephram glanced at her then back at the road, "You know...I'm surprised those buttons haven't fallen off yet"

Madison looked at him confused, then realized that she had been pressing every button over and over for the past 15 minutes. "Sorry" she said as she leaned back in the seat. She didn't really care what she listened to, but she wanted to avoid any awkward silence between them. "So what's your plan?"

"My plan?" he asked, not understanding what she meant.

Madison nodded, "Yeah...your plan...you have to have some sort of plan, you can't just show up at the door with your daughter and not know what you're gonna say..."

Ephram smiled, "I thought I would wing it..."

Wow, I've actually gone a whole 18 chapters without putting Ephram and Madison together! That's amazing! I didn't think I would last 5! Well...for all you e/m shippers out there, I'm workin on a lil' somthing that you might enjoy...so bare with me.