Mwahahaha.

Disclaimer: Meg Cabot owns all characters you recognise from the books.

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Michael's POV...

You know, I would have rather taken a bit longer than a weekend to make the biggest decision of my life, but it's not fair to anyone to drag it out longer than it has to be.

And I don't think a few more days will make anything any clearer or simpler, it'd just be putting it off.

So, with my decision made, I'm off to find the woman of my dreams and tell her.

I knocked on her dorm room door on Monday afternoon, hoping her schedule is the same as last semesters.

Mia opened the door a few seconds later, so either it is, or she just couldn't bear to go to class.

"Hi," I said sheepishly, shuffling from foot to foot.

"Hey," she said, looking me boldly in the eyes. "Come in."

I stepped into the small dorm room and was glad to see that her roommate wasn't here. "Sorry I never called," I muttered.

"It's ok," she replied, closing the door behind me. "You've had a lot on your mind."

"Yeah," I couldn't deny that.

We both sat on the edge of her bed, and it was uncomfortable. It's funny, because I never thought things with Mia would ever be uncomfortable ever again.

I took her hand in mine and used the other to lift her face so her eyes met mine.

"Mia," I said softly. There's no point beating around the bush, I just need to come out and say it. "The fact of the matter is… I love you."

She nodded and I could see tears pricking the edges of her eyes, as if she was anticipating a 'but' or a 'however'.

I kissed her to emphasise my point.

"Ok? I love you, I do. But..." she nodded again and I knew she understood. "But I have to step up to the plate and take responsibility now. There's a baby on the way and I can't just pretend that that's not true."

Those tears that had been pricking the edges of her eyes ran freely from them now, and it broke my heart to know that I had caused that. I made her cry.

"Mia, I'm so sorry. You know if there was any other way..."

"Michael," she interrupted me, choking on her own words. "I understand. You wouldn't be the man I love if you left a pregnant woman alone."

It was my turn to nod now. At least she understands.

"But I want you to know, Mia," I stuttered out. "That even if we're not together, a part of me will always love you. And I will never love anyone else as much as I've loved you."

"I'll always l...Love you too, Michael," she said, tears coming out even quicker.

I reached up and wiped her cheeks with my thumbs, cupping her face as I did so.

"And I want you to remember me, whenever you feel sad or alone, remember me and remember that I love you. Never forget that."

She nodded and wrapped her arms around me, burying her tears in my shirt.

"I can't believe it's over," she gasped to me. "We only just found each other and it's already over!"

"I know," I replied, starting to cry myself. "It's not fair."

We stayed like that for a good while, neither of us wanting to let go, because we knew it would be for the last time.

But we finally broke apart and just looked each other in the eyes, trying to capture the moment forever.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the CD I made her yesterday. "Here." I held it out to her.

"What's this?" she asked, eyeing it sceptically.

"It's something to remember me by. I know we'll stay friends, but I wanted to make this for you. Listen to it when you're alone."

She nodded and I stood up to leave.

"No, don't leave!" she cried.

"Mia, I have to," I said, really wishing I didn't.

"I know, but... I love you."

I kissed her quickly on the lips then left, without looking back. I knew if I did, I'd never leave.

I headed back to my dorm to compose myself. I'll admit it, right now, I'm a complete mess.

Breaking up with Mia is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I always thought if I was ever lucky enough to date her, I'd never let her go. But sometimes, you just can't help these things.

I made myself some soothing tea and slipped a Barry Manilow CD into the stereo. Who says men can't wallow? If I want to wallow, then I will damn well wallow!

After an hour of pathetic wallowing with Barry, I got up, showered and set off for my second task for the day. Something I wanted to do even less than breaking up with Mia, if that's even possible.

Holly was in her dorm room when I arrived. She seems to be in a good mood, I bet she knows what I'm going to say.

"Michael! Are you ok? I haven't heard from you in a few days."

"Yeah," I said, stepping into the room. "I had a lot to sort out in my head."

"Listen, I'm sorry for dropping that bombshell on you like that. I know you're with Mia and everything, but I just thought you should know. You deserve to know."

"Holly, don't apologise, it's not your fault. It's not as if you got pregnant on purpose. We just have to figure out what to do from here, that's all."

She sat down on the bed next to me. "You mean, you like, want to be involved?" She patted her stomach.

I looked down at the tiny bump and felt a sudden rush of pride. That baby is mine. I created it. Or at least, I helped out in that department.

"Of course I want to be involved, Holly. This is my baby too; I'm not going to leave you to deal with it by yourself. I'm not that kind of guy."

"Oh thank God." She lifted her hand to her forehead as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "I'm so glad you said that, because, Michael, I'm so scared! I have no idea what to do! You know how hopeless I am with computers, what am I going to be like with pregnancy? And what about when it comes out!?!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her hysteria. "Holly, calm down. You know, babies and computers are completely different."

"Yeah, but I'm going to be no good at this, I can just tell, I'm going to be a terrible mother!"

"Don't worry, we'll work it out. So have you seen the doctor yet?"

"Yeah," she nodded, calming down a little. "I only found out last week. I only just started showing and I've always been irregular. So it was a complete shock when I went to the doctor and he told me I was pregnant. I'm in my thirteenth week already."

"Have you had an ultra sound?"

"No. I thought, maybe, if you don't mind... we could go together? It's just, I'm scared and I haven't even told my parents yet..."

"It's ok, I'll come with you. And I'll come with you to tell your parents too."

"You…you will?" she asked, flabbergasted.

"Of course. We'll tell them about the baby and the wedding together."

"W...wedding?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, I just thought we should do this right. I mean, we are having a baby together. Don't you think we should get married?"

"I just never thought you would want to. What about Mia?"

I looked away sadly. "It's over with me and Mia."

"Well then, hell yeah! Let's get hitched!" she cried.

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Please don't send me letter bombs. How could I not make them get married??? And don't worry, Holly will get her comeuppance in the alternate ending that's in the works. Haha.

Ok, hands up who cried? If you didn't, I'm sure the next chapter will make you. I really hated how sappy this is, but it was inevitable.

Oh, and with El Scorcho, I'm reworking it, making it quite a bit longer and better. So you'll just have to be patient a little longer, I'll hopefully get it up soon. And I'm also working on a sequel to it, so don't say I never do anything for you guys!

Rivers is Lucie's pregnant dog forever. If I ever say anything to the contrary, I am wrong.