Emily hated herself for it...but Haley's words had wormed their way into her subconscious. She hated that now every time she looked at Derek, she couldn't help but fear that that day might be the straw that broke the camel's back and sent him running. Because where would she go if Derek decided he didn't want her anymore? She couldn't go back to her mother's and while her father might have been an option, she wasn't sure it was one she was comfortable with...

She hated herself for doubting Derek when he'd done nothing but love and care for her from the very first moment she'd found out she was pregnant. She hated that she couldn't seem to help but push him away, just a little, now that she was having these thoughts...because, truth be told, he was the first person in her life that she'd truly been able to count on, who had never let her down; but now that she was realizing the pattern of people disappointing her, she couldn't seem to stop worrying that it was only a matter of time before he did as well.

Derek, of course, didn't miss her suddenly skittish behaviour and he couldn't help but worry about her...

That day, they were on their weekly stroll through the park (Derek had taken on a small side-gig of dog walking for a few neighbours and Emily liked to come with him to get some light exercise), but there was none of their usual playful banter, in spite of his many attempts to get conversation started.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, knowing there was something on her mind, but needing a way to ease her into the conversation.

"There's nothing to talk about," she insisted. She couldn't seem to meet his gaze, focusing instead on the aging golden retriever that was the only dog chill enough that she could walk it without overexerting herself.

He heaved a sigh, knowing there was more to the story than she was letting on, but uncertain why she was suddenly so reticent to share. "You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"

She shrugged, but said nothing.

He carefully moved all the leashes into one hand so he could reach out and grab her free hand, squeezing it gently. "Come on, Em," he prompted, "I know there's something on your mind..."

Still she said nothing.

"Did I do something?" he asked.

"You didn't do anything!" she whined. She pouted petulantly because that was kind of the problem...she felt like she should be mad at him and if she had a reason to justify it, this would be so much easier.

He frowned, confused. "You lost me..."

With a dramatic and frustrated groan, she stamped her foot and mumbled something he couldn't quite hear. When he continued to look at her expectantly, she repeated, louder, "I'm scared you're going to leave..."

"Leave?" he repeated incredulously.

She nodded, cheeks flaming red with embarrassment now that she'd said the words aloud...it was too late to take them back now, though.

"Why would I leave?" he demanded, caught somewhere between anger and sadness. "Why would I abandon my son? Abandon you?"

She shrugged again.

"Do you... Do you not want me to stay?"

"Of course not!" she rushed to insist. "But you have to understand that not one person in my whole life has stood by me and I guess part of me just expects it at this point. And I guess part of me feels like if I push you away, then it will be easier because I'll know why you left, I'll know that it's my fault – I won't have to wonder why I wasn't enough."

"Em..."

She shook her head, not letting him finish what was surely a reassurance. "I know it's stupid and irrational and crazy, but I can't help it! That girl from the class got in my head and the statistics say she's right and..." She was hyperventilating a little at this point and starting to get dizzy.

As if sensing her sudden unsteadiness on her feet, Derek gently steered her towards a nearby bench and forced her to sit before she passed out. "Princess, I'm going to say something and I'm only going to say it once: Baby Girl, you be trippin'."

"What?" she asked, brows leaping up her forehead.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what more I can do to prove to you that I'm not going anywhere. Do you want a ring?" he asked, perhaps a little brusquely, "Because I'll give you a ring." He patted his pockets in search of something ring-like, but coming away empty-handed. So, instead, he plucked a strand of silver grass which he tied in a little circle. "See?" he said, pressing it into her palm. "Consider it a placeholder."

She let out a shaky exhale. "Derek..." she rasped. "You... You don't have to do this..."

He raised a brow as if in disbelief, but said nothing.

"I don't need a ring," she insisted meekly.

"Are you sure?" he pressed.

She nodded, swallowing down the threat of tears that had threatened to escape during her outburst. "I'm sorry I'm such a mess right now," she apologized.

He kissed the top of her head. "Not a mess," he said, "Maybe just cluttered..." He winced once the words came out, as they'd sounded much better in his head.

She laughed anyway. "Thanks, I think," she said, deadpan. "You're a true romantic."

"I know," he said with a playful smirk. "Now, if you'll excuse me...I have shit to clean up." He nodded in the direction of one of the dogs as it squatted nearby.

She laughed again, fuller, heartier. "Get used to it!" she said, "If your son is going to be chomping on my tits for a year, you get to deal with what comes out the other end..."

He rolled his eyes teasingly. "God, you're bossy..."

"That's the way you like it and you know it."