BN: This chapter is sad. which reminds me, in the last chappie, i said how the ending made ME cry. well, i'd gotten ahead of myself..so, you'll see the part that made me tear up in the NEXT chapter. oops.... anyhoo, here ya go. aren't you proud of me for actually updating on time? you should be.

Disclaimer: Felix is mine. ALL MINE, I SAY!!!!! the rest is ellie or meg's.

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Chapter Eighteen....

Michael's POV...

Boy or girl? Michael Junior or Holly Junior? Does the sex of the baby really matter? Either way it's still my baby, and I'll still be marrying Holly, even if it does turn out to be a girl who I just know will be like her mother. I'll just have to have a good influence in her life.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked Holly as we stepped into the exam room.

"Uh huh. I want to know. That way we can prepare better and won't be taken by surprise."

Knowing the sex of the baby won't make much difference in the 'taken by surprise once it's born' way. Because it's still going to be a shock to the system for both of us when we have a baby to look after, boy or girl.

Dr. Martin walked in and greeted us. Then she spent ten minutes asking Holly questions about the pregnancy so far, and taking notes on it.

I'd hate to see what those notes actually say, because all Holly was doing was complaining.

Finally Dr. Martin gelled up Holly's stomach and began the ultrasound.

"Oh, yes," she said, causing my heart to involuntarily skip a beat.

"What? What is it?" I asked, grabbing Holly's hand for support.

"It's your baby. Would you like to know the sex?"

Holly and I looked at each other for confirmation. I nodded and she told Dr. Martin that we did.

"Well, I'm about 95 positive, that you're having a boy."

A boy! I know I said it doesn't matter what we have, but a boy!

A mini-me! I just hope he has better luck in the romance department than his father.

"A boy?" Holly asked softly. I can't tell from her tone whether she thinks it's a good thing or a bad thing.

"Yeah, are you ok?"

"Uh huh. I mean, I won't be able to dress him up in pretty dresses or take him to ballet, but... but it's still our baby! We can have a girl next!"

'We can have a girl next.' Those words hit me like a tonne of bricks. I don't know if I'm ready to have this one child with Holly, how can she be thinking of the next child?

I didn't want either Holly or Dr. Martin to know about my doubts thought, so I gulped and dumbly nodded in response.

This seemed to be enough for Holly though. She beamed as if I'd just said I'd father ten more children with her.

The prospect of more children with Holly scared me for a while, but I soon got over it with my excitement about having a boy.

We left the doctors office and headed straight for the nearest baby store.

"Ooh, look at that!" Holly shrieked, pointing to a tiny high chair, covered in cartoon frogs. "And that!" She was now pointing to something else, and then something else, eventually she was shrieking about everything in the store.

I ignored her and looked around the store in awe. Sure the stuff is cute, but it's also very expensive! How exactly are Holly and I supposed to buy everything we need, as well as find our own apartment to live in?

I don't want charity from her parents; that would make me look incompetent. And my parents weren't exactly thrilled when they found out about the situation. I'm sure they would give me a loan, but it would come with another lecture about having kids before you're ready for them, and how sex before marriage is not good.

Believe me, I've learned my lesson.

"Can we get something?" Holly begged.

"Where are we going to put it? We shouldn't get anything until we have somewhere to live first."

"Not anything big, silly. How about a baby suit or a tiny vest or something? We could get it blue because it's a boy."

"Alright, let's pick something. But just one thing, ok?"

We walked over to the clothing section and right away I knew it was going to be a hard task just to let Holly get one thing. It'll be a hard task

"Ooh," Holly cooed, and I had to stop myself from making the same sound.

"Just one thing," I reinforced, half to her, and half to me.

"Aw, how can you pick just one?"

"One... Ok, one each." But no more. I had to stop at one each or else we'll end up buying the whole shop and not have anywhere to put it all.

Holly chose a baby blue baby-gro with a penguin on the left breast, and I chose a baby blue vest with three tiny ducks on the front.

I tucked the vest in my pocket, along with today's photo, just as a keepsake.

For the rest of the afternoon Holly and I talked about plans for us, and for our son.

We're going to start looking for an apartment soon, and instead of getting brand new furniture like she'd like to, we're going to get good quality second hand stuff. It took a lot to convince Holly that we can't afford new stuff; it took a lot to convince her we can barely afford food.

By the time it was time to meet Mia in the library I was in such a good mood. Even though Holly was trying to convince me not to go.

"But why do you have to go to the library again? Can't we just stay here and hang out? We can look through apartment listings or even watch a movie!"

"I promised a friend I'd help them study. I can't back out now."

"What friend?"

"Tyler." I feel guilty for lying to her, especially since we've had a good day together, but I don't want to feel guilty for helping Mia study, and if Holly knew I was, she'd make me feel guilty for sure.

"I'll make it up to you tomorrow," I said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her to me for a kiss.

"Ok, go on then."

I skipped out of the door and all the way to the library.

Mia was sitting by herself with her head ducked down and a book propped up, shielding her.

"Sorry, Hayles. I forgot. We'll go out next weekend... I know that's what I said last weekend but I'm studying again... Yeah, ok... See you tonight."

She hung up and put the book down; it had been shielding her phone call from the librarians since you're supposed to turn them off in here.

"Hi!" I said enthusiastically, still in a good mood.

"Hi. What's up with you?" she asked cynically.

"What? I can't be in a good mood?"

"Yeah, but why are you?"

"Oh, well, we found out the sex of the baby today."

Her face dropped a little, but I can't help being happy about it. And I'm not bragging; I'm just sharing the good news.

"Oh? What is it?"

"It's a boy!" I burst out. "I'm having a boy!"

"That's great. Congratulations."

"Thanks. Do you want to see the new picture?"

"Sure," she replied.

I pulled out my wallet, along with the vest, and got out the new photo.

"Here," I passed it to her.

"Cute," she said, even though I'm sure she can't even tell what part is what. I had to be shown.

She passed it back and picked up the vest. "What's this?"

"Oh, we just got a couple of things today."

She nodded and passed it back.

I looked at her face; it showed an expression I couldn't quite read. Sadness? Anger? Or is she just tired?

"Is this too weird? Me showing you this stuff and talking about it?"

She looked into my eyes and her expression changed; it lifted. "No. It's ok. I want to know that you're happy. And it seems like you are, I'm glad you are."

"Thanks. And I am happy. It seems weird, I didn't think I could feel like this again, but just knowing that I'm having a son makes me happy."

"Good," Mia smiled at me but didn't break the eye contact.

Temporary euphoria feels great. But I think it must act like a drug because it makes you do things you wouldn't normally do if you were level headed. It's the thing I blame for what I did next.

I cupped Mia's smiling face in my hands and I kissed her.

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BN: ahaha....ellie's so ebil. :D